IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGE.  (MT-3) 


.V    4 


% 

V .////. 


WJ. 


!.0 


lU 


I.I 


lAO 


1.25 


2.5 
2.2 

2.0 


14    ill  1.6 


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w       / 


PhritrwTPQnnir' 

Sciences 
Corpoiation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


».    Q 


^4^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


:\ 


V 


'^ 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  taehniquaa  at  btbiiographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  baiow. 


D 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covars  damaged/ 


Couvartura  andommag^a 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurte  at/ou  pailiculAa 

Covar  titia  missing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  maps/ 

CeTtas  giographiquas  an  coulaur 

Coloured  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autres  documents 


n 


n 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  marge  intiriaure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pagea  blanches  ajoutiae 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pagea  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmantairas; 


The 
toti 


L'Instltut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  tui  a  iii  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
da  cat  axemplaire  qui  sont  peut-^tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


r~~1    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pelliculies 

E    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoiories,  tachaties  ou  piqui 


piquies 

Pages  ditachees 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualic<k  inigala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  detached/ 

rri  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

|~n  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

n~|  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  heve  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  peiure, 
etc..  ont  Mt  film^es  d  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
posi 
oft! 
film 


Grig 

begl 

the 

sion 

oth( 

first 

sion 

or  il 


The 
shal 
TINI 
whi( 

MaF 
diffi 
entii 
begi 
righ 
reqi 
met 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  ItX  22X 


J 


26X 


30X 


^UA 


^4A 


£aX 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hat  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 


L'exemplairc  filmA  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gAntrosit*  de: 


Univertit<  de  Montreal 


University  de  IMontriai 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  I'exempiaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmda  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  mt  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  ^^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimds  d  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  fiimi  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  ia  m^thode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

u 


CONTF 
THE 


( t 


''rom  thi 


SMITHSONIAN    INSTITUTION.^^  "  Af  ^' 

UNITED     STATES     NATIONAL     MUSEUM.' 


THE  L  PP  nn^^^  ^    MONOGRAPH    OF 

THE  LEPiDOPTEROUS  FAMILY  NOCTUID^ 
OF   BOREAL   NORTH  AMERICA. 

(OCHSENHEiMER)  AND  OF  CERTAIN^ 
ALLIED   GENERA. 


I.I 
.4.1 

■If 

J 


BY 


JOHN  B.  SMITH,  Sc.  D., 

Hutgers  College,  Nen.  Brunswick,  Ne^  Jersey, 
niul 

HARRISON  G.  DYAR,  Ph.  D., 

Honorary  CustoUian  of  Lepidoptera. 


■■■■OTlOirBBS 


BWlBgg 


^i'usageduCf.Adelidje 


I'ro.  the  Proce«.i„„„,Ui,U.^^  states  National  Museum   Vol   XXI 

(with  Plates  I-XXII).  ^'  '""^^  -9* 


WASHINGTOX: 

r.OVK.RNMENT   PRINTIW;  OFFICE. 
1898. 


CONTRI 
LEPIL 
NORTl 

A  REVISK 


1 1 


t*    ».-<»»u'    •«L> 


In  1883 
U.  8.  Der 
and,  in  ad 
that  I  sboi 
dopterous 
many  of  th 
of  "cutwo 
desire  that 
in  which  t 
My  own  ta 
all  the  wor 
great  amoi 
prepared. 

In  1885 
Dr.  Kileyc 
was  then  ii 
tinned;  bu 
secure  the  ] 
doned.  A 
work  was  s 
pared,  aftei 
publication 


Proc, 


-VA 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TOWARD  A  MONOGRAPH  OF  THE 
LEFIDOPTEKOUS  FAMILY  NOCTUIDAE  OF  BOREAL 
NORTH   AMERICA.  i^UKH^AL 

A  REVISION  OF  THE   8PECIKS  OF   ACRONYCTA   (OCHSENHEIMER)   AND 

OF  CERTAIN  ALLIED  GENERA. 


By  John  B.  Smith,  Sc.  D., 

Rutgern  College,  New  liiunmvick,  Neto  rertey, 

and 

Harrison  G.  Dyar,  Ph.  D., 

Honorary  Cuatodian  of  Lepidoptera,  U.  S.  National  Museum. 


INTRODUCTION. 
By  John  B.  Smith. 

In  1883  I  was  employed  by  Dr.  C.  V.  Riley,  then  Entomologist  to  the 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  as  a  special  agent  of  his  Division 
aiid,  m  addition  to  the  economic  work  assigned  to  me,  it  was  planned 
that  I  should  devote  as  much  time  as  possible  to  the  study  of  the  lepi- 
dopterous  family  Noctuidae,  or  "Owlet  Moths."    Dr.  Riley  had  bred 
many  of  the  species  from  larvae  which,  under  their  common  appellation 
of  "cutworms,"  are  well-known  pests  to  agriculture,  and  it  was  his 
desire  that  we  should  cooperate  in  the  production  of  a  systematic  work 
m  which  the  early  stages  were,  in  the  main,  to  be  his  especial  share 
My  own  task  was  solely  with  the  adult  stages,  and  in  certain  genera 
all  the  work  was  to  be  done  by  Dr.  Riley.    In  pursuance  of  this  plan  a 
great  amount  of  material  was  accumulated  and  much  manuscript  was 
prepared.  ^ 

In  1885  I  became  Assistant  Curator  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum, 
Dr.  Riley  occupying  at  the  time  the  place  of  Honorary  Curator  It 
was  then  intended  that  our  joint  work  on  the  Noctuidae  should  be  con- 
tinued; but  It  soon  became  evident  that  we  could  not  at  that  time 
secure  the  publication  of  such  a  work  as  was  planned,  and  it  was  aban- 
doned. A  great  deal  of  additional  material  had  been  received  since  the 
work  was  started,  and  I  began  to  publish  such  parts  as  had  been  pre- 
pared, after  reviewing  each  group  and  bringing  it  up  to  the  date  of 
publication. 


Proceedings  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Vol.  XXI-No.  1 140. 
Proc,  N,  M,  vol.  xxi 1 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOU  XXI. 


Among  the  fjenera  reserved  for  study  by  Dr.  Riley  was  Acronyeta, 
wljich  had  interested  hiin  for  years  because  of  the  differences  noted 
among  the  hirvae.  Certain  studies  of  structural  characters  were  nuide 
by  Mr.  Tiieodore  Pergande,  of  the  Division  of  Entomology,  and  by 
myself,  and  under  Dr.  Kiley's  supervision  most  of  tlie  adults  and  all 
the  obtainable  larvae  were  figured  in  colors.  It  was  intended  that  the 
work  should  malie  Bulletin  No.  7  of  the  Division,  to  be  published  in 
1885,  and  seven  chromolithographic  plates  were  a<^tually  printed.  So 
many  life  histories  were  incomplete,  however,  and  so  much  difHculty 
was  encountered  in  obtaining  missing  species,  that  publication  was 
postponed  from  time  to  time  until,  in  1891,  Bulletin  No.  7  was  finally 
devoted  to  another  theme,  and  the  matter  was  allowed  to  rest  for  the 
time  being.  In  1889  I  resigned  n)y  place  in  Washington  to  accept  that 
now  occupied  by  me  in  New  Jersey,  and  all  plans  for  combined  mono- 
graphic work  by  Dr.  Kiley  and  myself  were  abandoned. 

Dr.  Kiley  retired  from  the  Department  of  Agriculture  in  1894  and 
devoted  himself  to  work  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  intending  to 
take  up  and  complete  those  lines  of  scientifi<*  study  which  were  perforce 
abandoned  through  the  burden  of  routine  work  in  the  Department. 
His  untimely  death  prevented  this;  and  in  arranging  his  affairs  his 
widow  very  kindly  turned  over  to  me  the  entire  mass  of  papers  and 
notes,  together  with  all  the  original  drawings  and  sketches  referring 
to  Acronycta.  ' 

On  the  occasion  of  my  visit  to  the  British  Museum  in  1891  I  did 
not  see  the  entire  (;ollection  of  Acronycta,  partly  because  they  were 
not  then  all  included  with  the  true  Noctuidae  by  ]Mr.  Butler,  partly 
because,  my  time  being  limited,  I  relied  upon  the  comparisons  made 
by  Dr.  Riley. 

The  manuscript  turned  over  to  me  contained  the  notes  on  the  British 
Museum  specimens  made  by  Dr.  Riley,  and  all  the  breeding  notes  and 
records  accumulated  for  many  years  in  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. There  was  no  descriptive  matter,  however,  and  not  even  an 
outline  of  a  proposed  systematic  division.  All  the  systematic  matter, 
therefore,  is  original. 

To  the  kindness  of  Dr.  L.  O.  Howard,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Riley  as 
Honorary  Curator  of  Insects  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  as  he  suc- 
ceeded to  his  place  in  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  I  owe  the  loan  of 
the  entire  material,  of  every  kind,  in  this  group  from  both  Museum 
and  Department. 

To  this  was  added  the  collection  accumulated  by  me  for  Eutgers 
College,  and  the  rich  material  borrowed  from  Mr.  J.  Doll,  of  Brooklyn- 
Dr.  E.  Ottolengui,  of  New  York;  Mr.  E.  L.  Graef,  of  Brooklyn;  Mr! 
Philip  Laurent,  of  Philadelphia;  Dr.  William  Barnes,  of  Decatur,  and 
Prof.  George  H.  French,  of  Carbondale,  Illinois.  To  Mrs.  C.  H.  Fer- 
nald  I  owe  a  number  of  specimens  from  her  own  collection  and  others, 
with  notes,  from  the  collection  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural 
College  Experiment  Station. 


NO.IUO. 


Prof. , 

tions  of 

with  ma 

Beutenn 

Museum 

from  the 

Dr.  Hem 

collectioi 

from  tha 

in  his  cl 

assisted  i 

The  ms 

(lantever 

ties  for  as 

<Jf  rec( 

studied  t 

lished  by 

larval  chi 

task  of  d( 

sented  to 

my  hands, 

ture  stage 

afterwards 

cies  as  wei 

therefore, 

of  the  8pe( 

as  based  oi 


In  the  ci 
I  placed  at  f 
somewhat  r 
group  has 
never  been 
the  other  N 
I  termed  Noc 
Following 
las  follows: 
]^Ionia,Arsil 
(allied  to  Br, 
In  1890,  M 
tangible  cha 
tague  way  u 


vol.  XXI. 

I  Acronycta, 
Mices  noted 
<  were  made 
gy,  and  by 
Jlt8  and  all 
led  that  the 
iibliNhed  in 
rinted.  So 
h  dilhcnlty 
i  cat  ion  was 
was  finally 
rest  for  tiie 
accept  that 
ined  mono- 

1  1894  and 
iteuding  to 
Jre  perforce 
epartment. 
affairs  his 
l)aper8  and 
8  referring 

1891  I  did 

they  were 

tier,  partly 

sons  made 

the  British 
:  notes  and 
Qt  of  Agri- 
3t  even  an 
tic  matter, 

r.  Riley  as 

as  he  suc- 

bhe loan  of 

1  Museum 


NO.  lUO. 


yOKTll  AilERlCAN  mcTVinAK-SmTB  Am  PTAR. 


s 


with  material  from  the  I  dCuv  ™l'Lt,  .  n  :""  """""y  I"'"™! 
Beuten^iiller.  Crater  .,f  Z\ZZTZV:^:Tn  ZT  *"• 
Museum  of  Natural  Utetory,  kiut  ly  secured  for  m„  ,  ,  .  ^•™"«™ 
from  tlje  Kdwarda  collection  inrt  ILV        u  ""''"'  8Pe«iraen8 

l)r,lleury8ki„„er     tow«rret    taZr'^'Y^ 

coiiectio,.  of  tue^j:::!y7z^'^^;^'>^^'^;''  «■« 

from  that  of  the  America,,  H;nto,,,ol„gica^^  Society  U,w'',;  ""*' 
..,  M.  charge,  and  to  these  and  to  all  otherlwho  ,^v!  M""'  "''* 
assisted  me  I  offer  sincere  thanks  ™  otherw,se 

.lantLrSerr^l^lrinTel"''  ""','  "">  """  ""^  ""-'  "•">- 

tiesforasfert,.,,i„gr:»;::rvSo:"f„Th:z*s''"^''""""'- 

t„sk  Of  dealing  with  the  early  stages  in  this  g™„s     A   Cw""".,"'  "■" 
sented  to  <lo  this,  I  turned  over  to  him  »     tf        »  liindlycon- 

".y  hands,  and  h'e  is  -lefy  r:;„*:sib^f  "a   ;rrS,"l"to"V'"'"  '" 
ture  stages.    We  worked  indftnpn,ioT,fi    /       j^^^taniing  to  the  imma- 

,.f.erwar^ds,  comparing  Irt:,''!^^":^  l!::^^^' '"" 
cies  as  were  due  to  the  use  of  suhnrHin^frl,        !  ^^  discrepan- 

therefore,  solely  -sponSe  i:t  o^Llt^^^^^^^^  TT^ 

of  the  species  is  in  all  senses  a  joint  result  and  ;  n«  „    i  "^^'«'^«^t'«» 
as  based  on  adult  as  well  as  early  stages  '^  arrangement 

THE  GENUS  ACRONYCTA  AND  ITS  ALLIES. 
By  John  B.  Smith. 

ll.hL'ttrEd^rsmanti-eL'^tr"  ^'r""'  -<"  '»-  '» 
so,„ewhat  retracted  IcaT  a„7r»,.      'P«"«^""''  P""»P,  robust  form, 

:r„trsr?itThihi«r^^^^^^^^ 

termed  Noct„lra^";Zfbtdi^putd°'°''  ""™'  '*^  ^"»""'  «<"  ^ 

h  11  led  to  BnjophiL.  -^oronycta,  Barnnmemna,  and  the  genera 

I    I''.lf«.Mr."A.K.(irote'formeda<'faniiIy»ADatelida«  for  „k-  , 

tiuiirible  ohir-1/.fQ.-a  r^p  4-1     •  ^    -^P'»t«imae,  tor  which  no 

f-4ewa;=^SZS^ 

'  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roemer  Mns,,  HildeHhmin,  No.  sT"  ~ ' 


I'liocKKnryds  of  the  national  mvskvm.  voujxt 


thva,  TrkhoHta  («xoti<),  llarrinimnnm,  Feralia, }fomophana,  THphthera 
\Moma\,  Mirrocoeiia,  Aptitda  [Arronycta]  ArHiloncht;  Hiinym  (exotic), 
and  (lifytrHfa  (exotic). 

MvroUmclw  is  omitted,  probably  Wy  acciilent,  Htnco  it  is  referred  to  as 
ti  diviHioii  of  Avronyvta  in  auotlier  part  of  tlie  paper. 

Taking  this  a^'greffation,  wlietlier  as  arranged  by  Mr.  (Jroto  or 
myHelf,  as  a  wliole,  it  is  impossible  to  define  it  witliout  including  also 
all  the  other  Noctniduc.  Dr.  Dyar  linds,  liowever,  that  the  larvae  of 
Acronycia  and  some  other  genera  differ  from  those  of  tiie  normal  Noc- 
tui«ls,  and  for  convenience  his  restriction  can  be  followed,  thongh  it 
leaves  some  unsatisfactory  situations.  For  tlie  reasons  which  lead  Dr. 
Dyar  to  his  contilusions,  his  notes  on  tlie  larvae  should  be  referred  toj 
it  must  sutlice  to  say  here  tliat  only  Dcman^  I'anthca.,  Charadra,  Harriai- 
mimna,  Mcrolonchr,  ArHihnohi,  and  Acronyvta  are  included.  Baphia 
and  Feralia  are  rejected  from  larval  characters,  and  Momophana  and 
Motna  from  adult  structures.  Microcoelia  is  divided,  and  one  of  its 
species  is  included  in  Arronyvta  on  both  larval  and  adult  characters. 

As  restricted  above,  there  are  two  very  sharply  defined  series,  dif- 
fering in  important  structural  characters.  DcmaH,  Charadra,  and 
Panthca  have  vein  5  of  the  secondaries  quite  as  strong  as  any  other  on 
that  wing,  and  arising  from  the  end  of  the  median  vein  close  to  4.  The 
median  vein  is,  in  this  case,  therefore,  distinctly  quadrifld.  Subordinate 
though  congruent  characters  are  hairy  eyes  and  pectinated  male 
antennae  in  all  the  species,  and  a  certain  similarity  in  habitus  and 
type  of  maculation.  But  Raphia  would  seem  to  be,  on  adult  charac- 
ters, a  proper  member  of  this  group,  which  for  convenience  I  prefer  for 
the  present  to  regard  as  a  tribe,  I'antheini,  thougli  it  is  rather  entitled 
to  subfamily  rank.  It  has  the  venation  of  the  secondaries  almost 
exactly  as  in  Charadra  and  indeed  agrees  quite  as  well  in  the  primaries 
also.  The  type  of  niacuhition  is  also  similar  and  the  body  structure 
and  pectinated  male  antennae  are  very  like  Charadra.  The  eyes  are 
naked,  but  this  is  an  unimportant  character  and  only  the  male  geni- 
talia which  are  typically  Noctuid  and  do  not  agree  with  those  of  the 
other  species  here  associated  bear  out  the  larval  indications.  Baphia 
is  therefore  omitted  in  this  treatise  as  I  am  at  present  unable  to  assign 
it  a  satisfactory  position. 

Among  themselves  the  genera  differ  fairly  well.  Panthea  and  J)emas 
are  both  incapable  of  feeding  because  of  tlie  weak,  membraneous 
tongue,  and  both  tend  to  a  great  variability  in  the  origin  of  the  veins 
about  the  accessory  cell,  which  may  be  entirely  absent  or  fully  present 
in  the  same  species.  Panthea  has  more  evenly  triangular  primaries 
with  an  almost  straight  inner  margin,  and  the  markings  consist  of 
band-like  transverse  lines.  Demas  has  the  primaries  narrower,  more 
abinptly  widened  at  the  base,  giving  the  inner  margin  a  curve  at  that 
point,  and  has  the  markings  more  normally  developed.  The  differences 
are  obvious  but  not  striking. 


Chnrn 

both  se.li 

In  the 

yctini,  tl 

(|uite  rei 

ail  itnpoi 

occurs  w 

the  medi 

my  pres( 

A  cronyct 

Hadtmidh 

except  a 

Dyar.    C 

differenti 

character 

other  woi 

with  the . 

ters  alone 

As  sub 

naked  eye 

ble  Bomb. 

Four  gj 

which  the 

feeding  in 

or  with  fla 

and  ordinj 

AraUonc 

and  in  the 

lines  or  o] 


NO.  1140. 


J^^  ^.VA'A/C^AT  NOCTVWAE-SMlTn  AND  UYAR. 


ferretl  to  as 


""  ■""""'';■:'•  ""«  "" t  "-..ly  a  creator  or  Z  Ivel  1        ' wll L',! 

the  „,.di»„  v,i„  sfictly  .,..„,.  „,.„  r,  ^.:',V"in  ,         ;  la"  ''"s.,r"' 

.UTo«y,,(,«,  that  is  in  .my  wav  dim-reiit  Crn,,;  .i...    .• .?  "'° 

//,.,;«./..  and  the  tribal  L,  Im '  "Z  «  to  „  i,^.;^  t  in  tf"";'",?' 

ters  ulone,  ho  far  a.  tl.ey  are  i,ow  appreciated  '      ''  ^""'''^" 

wiiicli  the  antennae  are  simnin  ■•«  i  .v«.i  .         ^  -^^i^nytm,  in 

and  ordinary  epots  tairly  indicated  in  a,"  c."     '  '™""'"™  '"'"' 

belongs  in  the  early  stages.  ^   auricoma,  to  which  it 

Meroloncke  is  a  much  more  strongly  marked  offshonf  fvnrr,  ..    ^ 
stem.    The  body  is  s<unewhat  more  rob'Tt  c^^^^^^^  """« 

"•ore  shaggy,  the  head  more  retracted   the  pal ,71^  I   T^T  ^"^ 

Ib:!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  —  ^^-  i«  -  departn^-ir 

JZ^'t^Tv"  ^'''"""^  '"^^''^^°*  ^"d  t«"^^«  to  the  Bryophilid  " 
'ince  h„t      ^       T  «>^^««lation  gives  it  a  somewhat  .uisleadin^am  ear 


6  PROCKKDtNGS  OF  THE  SATIONAL  MUSBUM.  vouxxi. 

terB  ill  Heeiiiliigly  allied  g«imra  to  inuko  thm  of  auy  great  importance  at 
present. 

It  will  be  seen  from  thiM  review  that  the  laHt  word  on  the  relationship 
of  the  genera  treated  in  thit*  paper  han  not  been  wiid,  and  that  their 
a8Hociati(»n  as  adults  in  not  fully  wan  anted  except  from  convenience. 

In  tabular  form  the  groups  and  genera  above  referred  to  may  be 
arranged  ».h  follows: 

ANALYTICAL  KKY  TO  OROUPS  AND  (JKNKHA. 

Volii  6  of  H«c»udttricM  un  strong  iih  the  othorH  utid  uriHiiig  from  the  me<lian  vein  close 

to  4;  eyes  hairy I'anthkini. 

TouKiie  short  uikI  weak,  useleHs  for  feeding;  antuniiae  peitiuated  in  the  male, 
stiuple  in  tho  female. 
PriinarieH  broad,  trigoiiate,  inner  and  out«r  margin  iipproximatoly  «qual  in 

'«"«♦•' ^.J'anthea. 

PrlmarieH  narrower,  more  abrnptly  widening  at  l>aRe,  the  inner  margin 

longer  than  the  outer Demas. 

Tongne moderate,  usefnl  for  ftieding;  antennae  pectinated  In  both  sexes;  though 

Hhortly  in  female Ckaradra. 

Vein  6  of  secondaries  weak,  arising  from  the  cross-vein  remote  from  4;  eyes  always 

"*'**'^ AcitONYCTINI. 

Antennae  simple  in  both  sexes. 

Tongne  moderat«  or  strong;  ordinary  spots  or  transverse  maoulatlon  at  least 

traceable Acronycta. 

Tongne  weak  and  shhrt;  muculation  strigate,  withont  trace  of  ordinary 

spots  or  transverse  lines AraUonvhe. 

Antennae  shortly  pectinated  in  the  males. 

Ashen  gray  species  with  hairy  vestltnre,  body  plump,  wings  small ;  abdomen 

»"t»<'t«*l Merolonrhe. 

Brightly  colored  and  marked,  with  scaly  vestltnre;   body  slight;    wings 

large,  abdomen  prominently  tufted Harrisimemna. 


cliaractei 
.V^aristij 

tllKl.H   pON 

Im'  a  IJpa 
(he  tufts 
lioiM  the 
Dr.  Untie] 


THE  EARLY  STAGES  OF  ACRONYCTIDS. 
15  Y  Hauklson  (}.  Dyar. 

The  descriptions  of  larvae,  which  1  have  prepared  to  supplement 
Professor  Smith's  at!count  of  the  imagines,  are  taken  almost  entirely 
from  my  own  notes.  Professor  Smith  had  practically  no  useful  notes 
on  early  stages  to  turn  over  to  me,  but  there  was  considerable  material 
in  alcoholic  and  inflated  specimens.  Most  of  this,  however,  consisted 
of  the  common  species  on  which  I  already  had  notes,  and  only  a  few 
of  the  specimens  were  of  service.  Fortunately,  my  notes  were  rather 
full  in  the  Acrouyctid  forms,  though  far  from  complete,  as  I  had  not 
made  special  eftbrts  to  finish  them. 

The  larvae  of  the  Lepidoptera  present  a  number  of  well-marked 
differences  in  structure  among  themselves,  affecting  principally  the 
clothing  of  hairs.    These  differences  are  very  well  marked  in  the  I 
Acronycta  larvae.     So  great  is  the  diversity  that  Dr.  A.  G.  Butler! 
formerly  attached  much  importance  to  it,  referring  the  several  species 
of  Acronycta  to  different  families  of  moths,  according  as  the  larval 


NO.  1140. 


>">iiTn  iMminAS  X(,cw,n.u-.smr,i  akd  inAH. 


-i.i»  ,.o.»...  i„  „:;,';,:;:":„?  "^:;:,:r  ,:;;r  r;;;r" '  ^"° 

'"••i  LipaiLI  fi„,„  tl,«  l„„»UI,ko  tiif  .^^  1,  '"''"•"'"«  "ould 

M.M..  the  «„!<  hair    a,  y    a  u  ,t,  t::  r'  '  '  """"f""  »  '■•'"i"-».....l<l 
.l-y  n,f.r  »„.,„i„||,      I  ™v,  u    .  u  !l7r  '    """'  ■""  ""'^  ""■'""»« 

.  V  -".  „„.  „„  ,.%ioge„„Mc:t:rr^Tti7.;;r  :::::':r'"'''»"™ 

nmdamerital  points.    Tliev  are  M«flM  i.,  f  ^    ^        ''''  ^''*'''*'  '""''e 

-  '.."'tiplo)  rather  tha,;';  T.^    "^^^'^^^^   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

msentially  adaptive,  in  ..ui.klv  a  Jted  t  ;«•  ^'''  "'!*^''«*'"tion  is 
iK'iK^e  „«t  reliable  in  clu^HiflraHn  1 1  ^  'V*'"*^^''^'"*"*  «"  «»H»»lt,  and 
onlvslo^vlyatte<CbvevXf^^^^^    /»!«  »>o«'t.on, on  the  other  hand,  is 

pH.nitive  Jtae'on  thl^.bdol  .^  •phl'^x'V'n  "f '^^i  '^^''"  "^ 
actoriHticof  theTineides  fthA  Mi,  J  i  ,  "J^"  ^yUl,  t\g.  1,  are  char- 
-.1   Huttertiie.     Tlbe^lJe^  «^;^'  --n«, 

condition  in   the  Sphinires  rPlZ  v vii      «  *'"'  ^^I"'»«H  '«  the 

moved  n,>  behind  t  ^  iraele  ^h  .  A  "^o  ^^'  ^'^'"*^  ''^"b^'''^'^  ^^ 
flu   '^^     m,  .  !*  »P"»*«'e  >s  thatot  the  Bond)yce.s  (l»hire  VVrri 

siuglo  hair.  Amonu  these  Zr«  ?  ?•  "*"**  ''^  !*'''*•'«  "^  e»«h 
of  the  thoracicZr  t  X  fwalft,? '"*'"''  ""^«  "'  n.oditicatiou 
The  group  inelud  L  the  «n  nh  ^j"'*'  ^^t'^^''^*^^  ^^^«  l^^r«e  ,,roups. 
Notodontiiae  cX  r^,t  .'  ,^;'  ^f  *^«  '^^^I'^^  »«ads  up  from  t  .e 
tVom  the  Noetu^d  "a  rnld  :  tireT;"!;''^"-  7'"  ^"'^^  «^-*« 
^^uchromiidae  (Syntonuidaer  Th«  '^''''  '"'"""^"''^  '"  "'« 

wart«  has  taken  X  several  ffml'^T'''""   "'  ''"«'"  ^**»"^  "'^o 

byces,«o that the'^riir  r reTs'rtt":if  rr^-*'^ "^'^• 

attinity.    Moreover  a  refnr,,  f«  f .  ,  ?  absolute  criterion  of 

caution.    The  result  i^  th.,t  fo^.i      u  ®"   ^'*^'  »  certa  u 

mentioned  above^ch-iraeter^     «y  ^outlast  with  the  superfamily  ones 
kseofthe,a™.;:ri,XTXi.r  """^  »'™°''"^"'-''ed  than 

warranted  iu  sepuratiue  uart  lltZ,  .1     ''*"'*  hiiuaelf  almost 

including  AcronycCafe'^rN  '  2s   "ut  h"""^'    "'"*  """''  "''^'' 
form  the  subject  of  the  present  artioir  if<«<M<i«.  which 


»;. 


8 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vol  xxi. 


Eggs. — The  eg^s  are  circular  and  much  flattened,  the  inicroi)ylo  Id 
the  center  of  the  upper  i^ide,  ribbed  and  with  faint  cross-striae.  The 
characters  are  the  same  as  in  the  English  species,  as  described  by  Dr. 
T.  A.  Chapman.  So  few  of  our  species  are  known  that  it  is  impossible 
to  generalize  on  them  and  useless  to  specially  discuss  the  few  cases. 

Larvae.— Tlxa  larvae  of  this  genus  are  especially  interesting  from  the 
wide  range  of  the  characters  of  the  hairs.  The  range  covers  forms  with 
single  setae,  with  true  many-haired  warts  and  those  in  which  this  pri- 
mary coating  is  almost  completely  replaced  by  a  secondary  one  of  the 
hairs  growing  from  the  skin.  This  is  as  great  a  range  as  is  shown  by 
any  of  the  families  of  the  whole  Bombyces.  All  the  species  may  be 
traced  back  to  a  ground  form,  which  may  be  described  as  a  typical 
Noctuid  in  which  warts  have  been  developed,  accompanied  by  a  tend- 
ency to  the  production  of  secondary  hairs.  The  species  have  made 
the  most  of  this  comprehensive  structure.  In  the  single-haired  forms 
degeneration  has  occurred,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  presence  of  true  warts 
in  the  earlier  stagee.  The  Arctianlike  forms  have  preserved  the  warts 
intact  without  secondary  hairs.  Another  series  has  developed  the  sec- 
ondary hairs  at  the  expense  of  everything  else. 

The  species  divide  into  four  well-marked  groups.  The  first  com- 
prises those  with  abundant  secondary  hairs.  All  the  American  species 
have  a  series  of  dorsal  tufts  or  pencils,  variously  modified,  and  in  some 
cases  absent  in  the  last  stage.  The  coloration  is  very  diverse.  (Group 
americana.) 

In  the  second  group  the  warts  are  small,  the  secondary  hairs  weak, 
but  present  in  some  degree.  There  is  a  wide  range  in  the  coloration  of 
these  forms  at  maturity,  where  various  adaptations  and  cases  of  mim- 
icry occur,  though  before  the  last  stage  very  diverse  forms  are  often 
strikingly  alike.     (Group  lobcliae.) 

The  third  group  have  warts  in  the  early  stages  in  all  the  American  1 
species  so  far  known,  which  may  degenerate  to  single  hairs  in  the  last | 
stage  except  in  the  case  of  tubercle  VI.    Secondary  hairs  are  absent. i 
In  two  cases  the  hairs  are  spatulate.    This  group  appears  at  flrsti 
sight  a  compact  one,  but  from  the  results  obtained  from  the  study  off 
the  male  genitalia  of  the   moths  it  appears   that  the  single-hairedf 
species  are  really  derived  from  two  ditterent  sources  within  the  genus.! 
One  section  (group  hamamelis)  hus  the  structure  of  retardata,  while  thel 
other  (group  persuasa)  seems  to  have  arisen  from  a  point  near  euspi^ 
and  tridi'm.    The  structure  of  (houp  IV  may  be  derived  from  (Jroup| 
III  by  the  loss  of  the  secondary  hairs,  and  the  only  unexpected  point| 
that  the  male  genitalia  indicate  is  that  the  single-haired  structure  h;is 
been  developed  twice.    The  loss  of  secondary  hairs  would  be  expectci 
to  accompany  this  change,     {{jevonm persuasa  and  hamamelis.) 

The  fourth  group  is  more  compact.    The  warts  are  well  formed  anc 
bear  spreading  tufts  of  hair,  in  some  cases  supplemented  by  bunchel 
of  line  feathery  hairs  which  in  luteivoma  become  markedly  developedi 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOC TUIDA E-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  9 

Secondary  hairs  are  absent.    Most  of  the  species  are  black  or  brown 
and  are  low  feeders  like  Arctians.    (Group  anrieoma.) 

Four  larvae,  not  belonging  to  Acronycta,  are  known,  which  have 
near.y  the  same  characters  as  the  Acronyctids.    They  comprise  the 
genera  Demas,  Charadra,  Panthea,  and  Harrisimemna.     liaphia,  Feralia 
and  BryopMla  have  not  these  characters,  while  Momophana,  Diphtherl 
Cerma,Polygrammate,^  CyatMssa^  Chytonix,  usually  associated  here, 

■Since  this  article  was  sent  to  the  Vni^te^^T^a^^^b^^oJ^iyiii^^^ 
ihe  larva  ,8  an  Acronycti, ,  but  only  a  portion  of  the  warts  are  many-haired     T  Ts 
unhke  all  the  other  spec.es,  the  only  Hugyestion  of  afhnity  being  in  the  h  .bit  of 
pupation,  which  suggests  £arrmmc'm«a.    The  following  are  the  charaotera: 
!  LARVA. 

5/aj,e/ -Whitish  the  body  a  little  green  tinted  at  the  end  of  the  stage;  width 
of  head  0.2  n.n..     Warts  small,  but  apparently  an  in  the  Ibllowing  stag!!l   two 
haued ,  III,  several  ha.red.    The  length  reaches  2  mm.     The  exact  details  of  s  age  I 
and  true  number  of  stages  not  determined.  " 

S<a^eyj.-Flattcned  the  warts  as  in  the  following  stages:  III,  largo  and  many 
ha.red ;  width  of  head,  0.3  mm. ;  length,  4.8  mm.     Whitish,  with  a  green  tint 

.S%« ///.-Head  round,  green,  width,  0.5  mm.  Body  flattened,  wart  I  two 
ha.red ;  II,  smgle ;  III,  m.ny  haired.  Green,  a  trace  of  a  white  subdorsal  line  iZ 
body  tapers  behind  and  the  feet  are  normal.    Length,  6  5  mm 

Sj«j,e  /r.-Head  green,  width,  0.9  mm.     Wart  I,  two  haired;  II,  IV,  and  V,  sin- 
gle; III  and  VI,  many  haired.     Wart  III  is  very  prominent,  projecting  fron    the 
des     Green  a  narrow  white  subdorsal  line,  below  wart  II  ind  small  interseg! 
mental  dorsal  dots.    Length  at  end  of  stage.  8.5  mm 

Stage  r.-Gveen;  head,  I..J  mm.     Warts  as  before,  the  hair  fine  and  pale      A 
single  dorsal  and  paired  addorsal  white  dots;   subdorsal  lino  oa  joints,  3  to  13 
wlute,.,us   be  ow  wart  II     Anal  feet  divergent,  as  seen  from  above.    Lengih,  li  mm.' 
Sage  '  /.-I  ead  rounded,  whitish  green,  mouth  white;  a  tiny  black  do    in  the 
iTet  '  "w  ";  T  ^:  ;?^*""^«'  -;f  ^'  '■'  ">»'•     «-^y  '^PP--  nna.h  less  hairy  thai 

IV  tiny  hair;  ^  a  strong  hair;  VI  several  small  hairs.  The  thoracic  warts  are 
similarly  reduced.  Color  clear  green,  the  dorsal  intersegmental  white  dots  elo^! 
gated,  addorsal  ones  round;  subdorsal  liue straight,  yellowish  white;  wart  III  shin- 

Ss  V  ?„  I'vr  ;    ■'';  ''"'^"'',  °'  abdominal  feet  elongate.    In  some,  the  spiracles, 

>a.  ts  and  yi  of  aodomen  and  III,  IV+V,  and  XI  of  thorax  are  surrounded  'J. 
rowly  by  red-brown  Dorsal  hair  dusky,  sub  ventral  hair  pale.  Later  the  ground 
.  olor  xs  more  whitish,  less  clear  green,  joint  2  and  head  a  little  yellowish,  the  mark- 
ings ess  coiitrasted.  At  the  end  of  the  stage  a  marked  ..liange  in  color  takes  place 
Head  shaded  wih  purplish  leaving  blotches  of  whit.,  dots  conllu-nt  in  group  ove" 
the  faces  of  the  lobes;  ground  color  in  front  and  on  clypeus  still  greenish.  Body 
grayish  wli.te  over  the  back  to  wart  V,  all  the  warts  orange  color  White  dorsal 
and  la  eral  lines  the  stigmatal  region  all  white,  broken  obscurely  by  greenish  in 

he  incisures  of  the  faint  annulets.  A  series  of  numerous  purple-brosv'^^.^pots  n  an 
neguar  geminate  row  of  four  dorsally,  the  second  single;  before  wart  I,  behind 
wait  II,  above  and  below  the  subdorsal  line,  small,  dilfuse;  before  and  behind  wart 
11 ,  over  most  of  the  subveutral  space,  forming  a  sharp  lower  border  to  the  white 
SiealldTrr'  '"*  ""  *^"  segmental  incisures.     Dorsum  faintly  purplish  shaded. 

After  acquiring  this  coloration  the  larvae  left  the  leaves  wh«r«  fh«-  h"<'  'vthprfo 
rested  and  finally  bored  in  soft  wood  to  pupate,  in  the  ma^neVof '//arn,mmna 
throwing  out  the  chips  united  by  threads  into  small  irregular  balls         '""'"'''""''' 

i'ui,«.-CylmaricaI,  slender,  light  brown,  slightly  shimng.    The  oases  uro  smooth, 


a 


Ai. 

nil 


tfl 


n 


IQ  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NA TIONAL  MUSE UM.  vol. xxi. 

are  unknown.  Of  the  four  that  are  known,  Charad^imd  Bema^AW 
in  Group  IV,  though  with  important  ditterences;  Harrisimemna  falls 
in  Group  III  rather  than  any  other,  though  aberrant,  and  Panthea  falls 
doubtfully  in  Group  I.  Charadra  and  Demas  have  not  the  pupal  char- 
acters of  Group  IV  ( Viminia),  and  they  doubtless  represent  a  different 
stem.  These  four  Pseudo-Apatelid  forms  {Pantheinae)  separate  as 
follows : 

True  warts  present,  uot  degenerate : 

Secondary  hairs  present,  sparse,  hair  pencils  present Panthea 

No  secondary  hairs.  '     "'    '■ 

Hairs  stiff;  pencils  present ^^„,^^ 

w„..   /'^''^««f;"«fn«il« Charadra. 

Warts  degenerate,  single  haired  above  VI Harrmmemna. 

The  following  table  will  separate  the  American  species  of  Acronycta 
whose  larvae  are  known.    The  more  important  European  species  are  also 
included  for  comparison.     Falvula,  amuecta,  and  lanceolana  I  have  not 
seen,  but  have  placed  by  the  descriptions  only,  which,  unfortunately, 
are  usually  silent  on  the  crucial  points.    Therefore  these  species  may 
not  be  correctly  placed.     In  the  special  descriptions  following,  only 
very  few  cases  uf  full  life  histories  are  made  out.'    The  larvae  have 
generally  been  found  young  and  bred  up,  the  first  stage  especially 
usually  wanting.    Except  in  Group  IV,  I  have  assumed  six  stages,  fol- 
lowing Chapman,  and  numbered  those  observed  to  correspond;  but  it 
should  be  noted  that  there  may  be  more,  and  the  relations  and  char- 
acters of  Stage  I  need  further  study  in  nearly  all  case.s,  even  where  a 
stage  is  marked  "  I."    From  Dr.  Chapman's  remarks  it  appears  that  in 
certain  of  the  species  the  primitive  first  stage  may  have  disappeared; 
but  our  knowledge  of  the  American  species  is  too  scanty  to  admit  ot 
more  than  mentioning  that  this  point  is  to  be  looked  out  for. 

The  notes  of  Dr.  C.  V.Riley  have  been  used  when  I  have  had  none  of 
my  own,  as  well  as  some  kindly  communicated  by  Mrs.  C.  H.  Fernald. 
Special  acknowledgment  is  given  in  all  cases  to  every  author  quoted' 
The  specimens  preserved  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  and  mostly 
collected  by  Dr.  Kiley,  have  been  freely  examined,  serving  as  the  basis 
for  several  descriptions. 

Three  descriptions  of  Apatela  larvae  are  not  referred  to.  They  are 
by  Dr.  Packard,  in  the  Fifth  Report  U.S.  Entomological  Commission,- 
'^ndeterniined.  They  seem  to  be  immature  or  non-Apatelid  forms,  and 
I  can  not  guess  what  they  may  be. 

the  thorax  above  shagreeuod;  abdominal  segments  rather  thickly  punctured,  exctJ^t 
in  narrow  posterior  rims,  which  are  smooth.  No  cremaster,  but  the  last  segment  is 
enlarged  above,  smooth  and  shining,  with  a  series  of  siiort  longitudinal  grooves  in 
the  depression  preceding  the  enlargement;  below  the  segment  is  less  enlar^red  not 
shining,  and  bears  several  slender  hooks  in  a  transverse  row  on  either  side,  directed 
obliquely  downward.     Length,  9;  width,  2.5  mm. 

Food  plant,  sour  gum  {Nyssa  sylvatica). 

'Only  morula,  furcifm-a.  griaea,  and  nocdvaga. 

«Page8  461,  498,  and897" 


NO.  1140. 


I  Demos  Ml 
•memna  falls 
Panthea  falls 
pupal  char- 
t  a  different 
separate  as 


mRTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUWAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


Demae. 

. . .   Charadra, 
Harrmmemna. 

»f  Acronycta 
ciesare  also 
1 1  have  not 
fortunately, 
species  may 
►wing,  only 
larvae  have 
i  especially 
stages,  fol- 
ond;  but  it 
8  and  char- 
en  where  a 
;ars  that  in 
sappeared ; 
to  admit  ot 

had  none  of 
I.  Fern  aid. 
lor  quoted, 
iiid  mostly 
s  the  basis 

They  are 
mraission,- 
forms,  and 


nred,  except 
it  segment  is 
1  grooves  iu 
nlarged,  not 
Lde,  directed 


11 

7Va..-I„  his  full  and  valuable  account  of  the^S^giSTIpi^t^ 
Jr.  Chapman  divides  the  genus  into  three  sections  or  ^nera  on  nlni 
ciaracters  His  third  section  comprises  only  %...',  Xh  iZt'n 
Acronyc^Kl  at  all,  and  may  be  omitted  from  consideration  xLre 
remain  two  groups,  the  first  with  the  pupa  of  the  ordinary  Jet ud 
pattern,  smooth  brown,  tapering  regularly  from  the  thickest  part  If 
the  thorax  to  the  anal  segments,  which  are  son.ewhat  roin  ded  the 
abdominal  segments  punctured  in  front;  cremaster  withT  serfe's  of 
curved  sinnes  or  hooks  in  two  sets,  one  above  the  other.  This  sTcion 
includes  the  larvae  of  the  first  three  groups 

The  pupae  of  Dr.  Chapman's  second  section  (I  have  transposed  hi« 
numbers)  are  black,  or  nearly  so,  with  a  rough  wrinkled  sTfaTe  the 
free  abdommal  segments  as  wide  or  wider  thanthosein  front  Ihete'rmi 

hatred  bld'^ikr^r-    1\'  ^^^^^^^^^  -arglnof  el'Ltne't 
nas  a  raised  band,  like  a  barrel  hoop,  which  is  smooth.    Cremaster 

furnished  with  a  bunch  of  stiff",  brown  bristles.    This  section  corre 
sponds  to  the  fourth  group  of  larvae.  '  ®" 

There  is  thus  an  exact  correspondence  between  pupal  and  larval 
characters,  but  the  latter  are  more  delicate,  defining  thrLg'rps 
he  pupae  can  show  but  one.    On  the  other  hand  L  characters  draw,! 
from  the  male  genitalia  are  still  more  sensitive  and  indicate   more 
groups  than  the  larvae,  while  contradicting  none.    • 

ANALYTICAL  KEY  TO  THE   KNOWX  LARVAE   OF  ACRONYCTA. 

1.  Warts,  small,  subfnnctional,  i&w  or  sintrln  },.vi,«,i  „+        *     -. 

2.  Seco„darjha,r,,b„„„„nt,predo,„ma„,.  '  (LaVval  .^Monn 'i' 

.Secoadary  l,»,r,  f„^  or  absent,  „ev»r  predominant ..  ,^- 

;*:»»"'«»"'f«"Hn|tdor.al  hair  pencil,  at  inatnritv      7 

I    /'''"'^'o'"''''^ '^""8  to  show  a  series  of  dorsal  marks  •    , 

.«;:;;■  ,r.!r  ;!d;:,r::"''"-!-'"'''°'-''^ '-- -"'-^^ 

Hair  dense,  short,  brown,  and  black  ; ^• 

6.  Hair  soft,  curving  over  n nsy mmetricall v haatuUfera. 

Hair  soft,  but  straight,  not  curved  . .        leporina.^ 

7.  PeiicilsonlyonjointsS,  7,  andl2 frigida. 

Pencils  on  other  joints  besides  5, 7,  and  12 ^' 

8.  The  pencils  on  Joints  5  and  7  paired...        ^" 

No  pencijis  jiaired ' amcricana. 

9.  No  pencil  on  joint  6 ' dactylinn. 

A  pencil  on  joint  6  as  distinct  astheothers ^''^"''- 

— — . ruhricoma, 

uropeau.  "American  and  European. 


•A    I 

i 

-t 

'J, 


!         tWi 


12 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


10 


Secondary  hairs  present,  tl.onj;!,  8o»,«tiin..8  very  few ;  warts  n.ore  than  one-haired 
atinatnrity.     (Larval  .Section  II) j. 

No  Hecondary  haire;  warts  usnally  sinyle-hairedYn'tV.e'iast 'stage,"  except  wart 
VI.     (Larval  Section  III) gr 

11.  Not  green  at  maturity  (nor  the  alternative  brown) "..... 12 

(ireen  on  the  sides  at  maturity,  or  the  alternative  brown  .!!!!...!!!"."  18 

12.  A  dorsal  elevation  (m  Joints  5  and  12 <o" 

No  dorsal  elevation  on  joint  5,  but  one  on  joint  12 //.......... o'cdrfe»/a//« 

No  distinct  eleva:;e(l  areas 

13.  An  elevation  on  joints  5,  8,  and  12;  dorsal  hand  dark.... morula 

No  elevation  on  joint  8 

11.  Dorsal  band  yc^llow,  elevation  on  joint  5  long „^/  i 

Dorsal  band  yellow,  elevation  on  joint  5  continued  by  long  hair  tiift cuspis^ 

Dorsal  hand  reddish,  elevation  smaller  and  no  tuft tvidem  ^ 

15.  Black,  with  seven  yellow  line.s,  like  Datana radcUffei 

lilack,  with  a  broken  dorsal  red  line "."" furcifera 

Of  a  uniform  mottled  brown,  appearing  flattened  dorsoventrally "w 

Ki.    Head  black  lined;  a  pale  patch  on  joint  11 megacephalaj 

A  red  patch  on  vertex  of  head ;  body  uniform Iv  colored. ...  17 

17.    Warts  I  and  II  dark,  contrasting ;  head  3.7  mm.  wide ".".".'.'  "  "  'bcMae 

Warts  I  and  II  dark,  two  rows  of  lateral  yellow  spots "  'in„o(ata 

Warts  I  and  II  pale,  not  contrasting;  head  5.5  mm.  wide ]   lobeliae 

Ohvaceons  with  darker  green  patches  on  joints  5, 8, 9.  and  12 hnpleta 

A  dark-brown  dorsal  line in 

No  dorsal  line  nor  patches...  .'""    ,' 

Dorsal  line  straight  and  even 2o 

Dorsal  line  widened  on  joints  7  to  12  without  central  patch 22 

Dorsal  line  widened,  bnt  containing  a  central  green  patch '.'. 24 

Dorsal  line  continuous 

Dorsai  line  broken,  obscure,  just  touching  warts  I-  -."......!!....  ^..^Awins 

al  line  reaching  to  warts  II 


18 


19 


20, 


21.   Dorsii 


.superanx. 


22. 


23. 


24. 


25. 


Dorsal  line  reaching  only  to  warts  I  f  1    i 


23. 
pruni. 


Dorsal  baud  widened  on  joints  8  to  12 

Dorsal  baud  widened  only  on  joints  8  a,nd  9 

A  brown  dorsal  mark  on  joint  2.  --/"■•"' 

,   .    .  „  ''  strujoaa. 

.Joint  2  green ,..,   "^  ., 

r,,,  °    ,  ,  litlioxpthi. 

Ihe  central  green  patch  present  on  joints  9  to  11 wgp„ 

The  green  patch  on  joints  7  to  12  '/•/ 

IT  .  ,j..    ,  trnona. 

I  lairs  multiple ;  segments  with  live  transverse  brown  bands retarilata 

Hairs  single,  not  enlarged. 


26. 


26. 


Hairs  single,  some  of  the  dorsal  ones  spatulate  at  tip " 29 

No  subdorsal  yellow  line ' ' 

A  broad  y<!llow  subdorsal  line..  ", 

2,1.  Hody  uniformly  colored ^„ 

A  blackish  lateral  shade,  inclosing  a  dorsal  V-niark  on  joints  11  to  12 eJi/ls 

28.  With  subdorsal  cream-colored  spots  over  tubercles  1 oc^ifl 

Without  these  spots ", 

Ja.  Body  brown,  unilorm ,„.  , 

T,„  1     ,,     ,         .^,   -  ajlhctn. 

Body  black,  with  large,  m^gmental  dorsal  white  spots  30 

These  spots  on  joints  5  to  12  marked  with  two  brownish  crossed  lines' "ah>i  ' 

These  spots  centered  with  a  transverse  black  dash funerau'g 

Body  not  green 

Body  green,  hairs  pale,  mixed  with  a  few  black  ones.. .".'.'."."'.' ianceolaria 

32.  Warts  with  more  or  less  tine,  feathery  hairs  among  the  bristles  33 

^'^'■*«  without  line,  feathery  hairs,  but  tlie  spines  often  soft 40 


30 


31 


'European. 


VOL.  XXI. 


)  than  one-haired 

11. 

ago,  except  wart 
25. 


12. 
18. 
13. 


occidentalia, 

15. 

inornla. 

14. 

pni.^ 

tuft Cll8pi8.' 

tridenit.' 

radcliffei. 

furcifera, 

16. 

...megacephala.' 

17. 

bet  lilac. 

innotata. 

lobeliae. 

impleta. 

19. 

vinniila. 

20. 

22, 

21, 

21. 

fvagilia, 

siiperaiiH. 

falcula. 

23. 

pruni. 

siriijosa.' 

lithonpild. 

grisea, 

tritoiia. 

retard  a  III. 

2(). 

2!). 


coiineclii. 

28. 

12 ej't/ix. 

oratii, 

hamamelis. 

afflietii . 

30. 

168 ahii.i 

faneralis. 

32. 

..  .lanceolaria. 

33. 


40. 


m  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DYAR.  \ 3 

;!;i.  These  Lairs  forming  collared  tufts,  resembling  Orgyia.  lut^^n.. 

These  hairs  not  forming  such  tufts '. '"'<"'«"»«• 

:^4.  A  distinct  pule  subdorsalline  or  row  of  spots". !!!....'! *' of' 

No  distinct  subdorsal  line 

.'!.").  A  dorsal  row  of  rod  dots...  ^* 

Dorsal  space  black »-«micJ«.' 

;i(;.  A  dorsal  red  patch  on  joints     auricoma.^ 

No  such  unpaired  dorsal  patch '.'.".W abscondita.  • 

;i7.  A  distinct  substigmatal  row  of  lunate  yellow  "spots  * .' nhuJ^' 

Substigniatal  baud  famt,  not  yellow ooimxta. 

38.  Warts  1  and  II  with  contrasting  white  spots ,V  '.V 

Without  these  spots ....;;;;;;:; ^yhmformu. 

3'J.  Hlack,  substigmatal  band  reddish  ....        '.'  ^^' 

Tawny  reddish,  more  or  less  suftused  wi'thlil'ack nocttvaga. 

AO.  Entirely  black..  sperata. 

Black  with  substigmatal  pale  li"n"e.'.'.'.".'.'.V.".".'.'.'.".'.'.".".".' rnenyanthidis.^ 

41.  No  pale  subdorsal  line *^" 

A  pale  subdorsal  line  present  besides  t'he  8nbstign,a'ta"l'on"e 11' 

42.  Hair  all  black *■'• 

Hair  pale,  except  for  a  few  biaVk  "ones  on  joints 's  and  12 Z7„7«' 

Hair  pale,  foxy  red  at  the  ends  of  the  body  -amans. 

Hair  red  the  whole  length  tmprcsaa. 

43.  Black  predominating,  hairs  mostly  soft".  ■."■.'. euphorbiae^ 

Incisures  broadly  pale,  hair  more  bristly ^im^^^l^r'       , 

44.  Warts  not  red . . .  i>tmyra  dentmosa.' 

Warts  red Simyra  nervosa.^ 

Arailonvhe  albovenona,^ 

DETAILED  ACCOUNT  OF  GENERA  AND  SPECIES. 
PANTHEA  Hubner. 
I'aiithea  HCmineu,  Verzeithniss,  1816,  p.  203. 

lonl^"Z'/f  r'/-P'f'K';'**^  '^^'^'''^  ^"^^'  «^«^*  quadrate  thorax, 
long  stout  cyhndncal  abdomen,  and  large,  trigonate, pointed  primaries 
The  head  is  broad,  retracted,  front  flat,  eyes  widely  separated,  all  the 

e  ext  en^e  posterior  angle  of  the  eye.    Tongue  short  and  weak.    Palpi 
sm.ill,  slender,  hardly  extending  to  the  front  and  practically  invisible 

he"nn'ir?    ^"^^"^^^'^^^^^^  ^"<i  rather  lengthily  bipectinated  in 
the  male;  simple  in  the  female.    Eyes  hairy,  without  lashes. 

V  Jtitnl"?  I'  quadrate,  rather  wider  than  long,  with  smooth,  hairy 
vestituie,  which  is  somewhat  loose,  but  marks  the  collar  and  patagiae 
and  seems  somewhat  abruptly  cut  oli'  posteriorly.  ' 

Tue  legs  are  short,  stout,  very  much  of  a  size,  clothed  with  rather 
r;  oT  T"  J''^  ""''  "'•'""^^'  '^''^'  '''  ^^«  — ^  «I>-s  wh^h 
recirx^ner^^'  ^'''-    ^"  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  «^-P>^  ^"  ^^e 

se^tt'  hu^TZ  T'\       ■'  ^"'"^  ""^^^  •^^  *^«  secondaries  in  both 
S'i^re^renott'^.  ^'^  '"""  ''^  ^-^-' P^-IN -^  cylindrical. 

The  wings  are  larcft.  well  dotliod  'vithsj—ioa  r,,,A  ,         ,      ,.  - 
" ^-, «c„  cisMii.u  Airu Sv;aie3, andarosetweli  iorward 

'Europenq.  ^AmericanrtkmrEur^e"t;^;  ' 


:M 


t 


^  ii 


m 

HI 


III 


III 


14 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 

on  the  thorax.  Primaries  broadlyTrigonate^the  outer  margin  obli^ 
the  apex  considerably  produced,  so  that  the  costa  is  almost  double  the 
leugth  of  the  inner  margin.  The  venation  is  normal,  except  for  the 
origin  of  the  veins  from  the  accessory  cell.  This  latter  may  be  entirely 
absent  and  is  never  well  developed;  but  hardly  two  of  my  specimens 
are  entirely  alike.  The  only  permanent  feature  is  that  veins  7  to  10 
inclusive,  always  rise  from  this  point,  though  7  may  be  stalked  with 
8  +  9,  or  8  +  9  may  be  stalked  with  10.  Sometimes  all  rise  from  one 
point,  and  again  7,  8  +  9,  and  10  may  be  entirely  distinct. 

The  secondaries  are  proportionate,  well  developed,  with  vein  5  as 
strong  as  the  others  and  usually  close  to  4,  so  as  to  form  part  ot  the 
same  series.  This  is  not  entirely  uniform,  however,  and  5  may  be  quite 
well  removed  from  4,  though  always  of  full  strength. 

Three  of  the  species  agree  in  genitalic  charac^ters,  the  harpes  being 
broad,  somewhat  irregular,  and  with  a  small,  very  stout,  obtuse,  curved 
corneous  clasper,  at  the  lower  angle  of  the  tip.    The  odd  species  is 
gigantea,  which  has  a  very  large,  broad,  corneous  clasper,  which  is  scoop 
shaped,  quite  abruptly  bent  and  pointed  at  the  tip. 

The  species  agree  closely  in  general  type  of  maculation,  all  having 
the  ordinary  lines  and  the  median  shade  a  single,  broad,  black  band 
while  the  subterminal  line  is  marked  by  a  broad,  black,  dentate  pre- 
ceding shade.  All  are  ashen  gray  or  black  powdered  on  a  white  ground 
Furcilla  differs  at  once  from  all  the  others  by  lacking  all  trace  of  tlie 
ordinary  spots.  The  lines  are  even,  quite  well  defined,  and  the  median 
Ime  as  a  rule  touches  and  for  a  short  distance  unites  with  the  trans- 
verse posterior. 

Gigantca  has  the  reniform  present  and  is  at  once  the  largest  and 
darkest  of  the  species.  The  primaries  seem  almost  blackish,  the  tho- 
racic markings  are  practically  obscured  by  the  powderings,  and  the 
transverse  lines  on  the  primaries  are  quite  narrow  and  even. 

Portlandia  is  almost  white  in  ground  color  and  only  a  little  powdery 
The  reniform  is  distinct,  a  little  diffuse,  and  the  transverse  lines  also* 
while  distinct,  have  the  margins  powdery  and  somewhat  diffuse  All 
the  hues  are  entirely  separated  in  all  the  specimens  under  examination 

Acronyctoides  is  the  smallest  of  the  species,  and  in  all  the  specimens 
I  have  seen  the  orbicular  is  present  as  a  black  spot.  There  is  a  dark 
shade  between  the  median  and  transverse  posterior  lines  which  gives 
a  broad,  band-like  effect  below  the  middle,  and  the  subterminal  space 
18  almost  entirely  dark  filled. 

The  species  are  thus  all  distinct  and"  may  be  arranged  in  tabular 
form  as  follows: 

ANALYTICAL   KEY  TO  THE   SPECIES   OF  PANTHEA. 

Ordinary  spots  of  primaries  entirely  wanting. 

The  ordinary  lines  and  nie.lian  siiadc  are  prominent,  broad,  and  black,  furcilla 
Ordinary  spots  repre8ente<l  by  tbo  renilorni. 

Very  dark,  powdery  gray,  with  the  black  transverse  lines  even  and  narrow. 

gigantea. 


NO.  1140. 


XmTB^llERWAK  mCTrrDJl!--Si,,Tn  aud  dvar. 


( )r<linary  spots  both  present.  portlandia. 

Ground  color  .MtUh, ...  .a„.v„.,  .^„  „„  ,„„.._  .„,  ^^,,,„^  ^^^^^^^ 

PANTHEA  FURCILLA  Packard. 

1881,  pp.  258,  277.  '     *^-  l^--^""™,  Bull.  Geol.  S.irv.,  VI, 

Pantheafurcilla  Smith,  List  Lepidoptera,  1891,  p  34 

vc^e  bands.    A„te„„a«  yellowthl  Mr;"  "°''""™''  ""^'^^  '™- 

Irimaries  with  the  transverse  bnwHnc^  ki"  i     , 
e.Kcept  for  the  subtenninal  hie     B^sxt  f  f  f '^.'-  T^^'  ^"'*^  «^«°' 
I  the  submedian  veil.     Transv«r««  ^,.^'^\^.  ^"'''  'i'^t'"^*'  and  reaching 

I  a  Whole  outwardr/obh'r  :ire ; r:  'Me^it" LTr '  >'"*  ^' 

even,  almost  upright  and  tonninn/fi    !       ^^^^^^'-^^  ^^^ade  line  broad, 

■the  inner  mare  n.    The  lin«  i«  ft.ii«^^  i  i  evident  toward 

Ordinary  spots  are  entirely  w^,,LT  tL    ^  ''      T'°*'  '""•    T""' 
tase,  witl  a  vague,  smoky  "er^r'  ba,  d   "r^ltr  '*"'  f  ""'^  "' 
h"..,le.    Tbere  is  also  a  broke,,  d,,sky    1  at  tl  h*  ""J"^  """"" 
r""S«s.    Beneath  grayish  powdery  .ri^l,  IT  "'*  °'  ""^  I«''« 

M„(ls  of  the  unner  ZZ    ?I    7!,        ,    P">n«ries  darker,  with  the 

fl.arp,y  deane^'l^e:!    rrtish™  wit'r  Z'T""''  "™  ™^^ 
[,.,.,ds  and  a  dusky  diseal  spot  '  "  '™'«™'»«  du^ky 

lixpanse,  1.3.5  to  3  inches  (34  to  M  mm.) 

5hr;"t^s:t'#ori„!'rt  *'"•'•  ^'"-^ « »» ^-^-^  u, 

h'g  the  black  bands  p,.o,ni„e,™v  relTev."^     ?^   "^  "  ^'^  ""'"'  ''^"- 

hai  n,arbling  and  th^liZ  2  „t  ™1    "  "■'"  °''''™  ""'™  '^  » 
I  **  na.xv^nci,  wLite-snadeU,  and  more 


16 


PROCEEDINOS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXL 


I 


ditt'use.  This  latter  type,  predoiniiiiites  among  the  northern  specjimens 
and  makes  a  strong  approach  in  appearance  to  portlandia,  though  the 
ordinary  spots  are  always  wanting,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes. 

LARVA. 

LiNTNEU,  Twenty-sixtli  Rept.  N.  Y.  State  Cab.  Nat.  HJHt.,  1872,  p.  132,  ««.  7.— 
TiiAXTiCH,  Piipilio,  1«8H,  III,p.  11.— Kernaii),  Stand.  Nat.  Hist.,  1885,  II,  p. 
453.— Paikaim),  P'ifth  Wept.  IJ.  S.  Ent.  C'oiniii.,  18!H),  p,  774,  pi.  xi,  flg.  8. 

mage  F/.— '<  Head  large,  rounded,  reddish.  A  pair  of  stiff  spike-like 
tufts  of  hair,  reddisii  at  base,  blackish  at  end,  arise  from  the  dorsal 
tubercles  (of  joint  13);  a  pair  one  third  as  long  (on  joint  3).  Body  and 
hairs  pale  rust  red;  a  lateral  irregular  whitish  stripe,  sending  prolonga- 
tions upward;  an  interrupted  dorsal  whitish  line.  Legs  reddish." 
(Packard.) 

Statfe  rj/.— Head  white,  so  thickly  dotted  with  light  reddish  as  to 
appear  of  that  color;  an  irregular  vertical  white  line  on  each  side  of  the 
median  suture  and  a  transverse  one  on  ocelli.  Warts  distinct,  normal; 
a  few  secon<lary  hairs,  especially  subventrally.  Hair  black  from  warts 
I  to  III,  pale  brown  V,  VI,  all  fine  and  rather  short.  From  tubercle  I 
on  Joints  2  and  3  and  from  II  on  5  and  12  a  distinct  black  pencil.  Body 
light  pinkish  brown,  whitish  dotted;  warts  orange;  an  obscure  white 
dorsal  line  and  distinct  substigmatal  one  excised  at  the  spiracles;  an 
undulating  row  of  black  dots  laterally,  four  per  segment.  Spiracles 
white  surrounded  by  a  smoky  black  shade.  Venter  and  legs  rather 
pale.  Another  form  is  "glossy  black,  sparsely  clothed  with  tufts  of 
white  hairs.  Hair  pencils  clear  white  or  tinged  with  olive.  A  lateral 
(substigmatal)  row  of  white  spots  extending  superiorly  and  anteriorly 
just  below  the  stigmata."    (Thaxter.) 

Food  plants. — Larch,  pine. 

PANTHEA  GIGANTEA  French. 
(Plates  IX,  lig.  2,  male;  fig.  3,  female  adnlt;  XIX,  fig.  3,  male  genitalia.) 

Platyccrura  (jiganlea  Frknch,  Can.  Ent.,  1890,  XXII,  p.  134. 
Panihea  gigantea  Smith,  List  Lepidoptera,  1891,  p.  34. 

Ground  color  whitish,  so  heavily  black  powdered  that  it  seems  black, 
wth  a  powdering  of  white  scales  and  hair.  This  also  gives  the  wings 
a  somewhat  semitrausparent  appearance.  The  thorax  is  crossed  by 
two  rather  indistinct  transverse  black  bands,  which  are  hardly  relieved 
against  the  dark  background.  Primaries  with  the  transverse  lines 
single,  black,  and  well  defined.  Basal  half  line  present,  but  hardly] 
traceable  below  the  costal  area.  Transverse  anterior  line  rather  nar- 
row, even,  sharply  defined,  almost  rigidly  upright,  and  marked  by  al 
few  preceding  pale  scales.  Transverse  posterior  line  even,  black,  wellf 
defined,  evenly  oblique  froni  costa  to  vein  4;  then  with  an  even,  well- 
marked  incurve  to  the  inner  margin.  This  line  is  followed  by  a  whitishl 
shading.     Median  shade  line  less  evident  and  narrower  than  the! 


NO.  1140. 


SOUTH  AMEUWAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


17 
Others  best  markea  and  witl,  a  distinct  incurve  acrosslbe~celI  and 
below  ,t  almost  straight,  an<l  much  less  defined.    It  does  not  t<>„ci.  t  e 
transverse  posterior  line  in  my  specimens.    The  subtern'ina  b.e    s 
iiimost  exactly  as  n,>m7/«,  but  a  little  less  marked.    There  s  a  dil 
t.nct  dusky  lunnle  representing  the  reniform;   but  the  orbicular  Ts 
absent.    Secondnnes  in  the  nude  whitish,  with  a  blackish  shad  ng   Lg 
the  inner  marg.n;   in  the  female  smoky,  with  an    indeflnr  daS 
exterior  band      Beneath  smoky,  paler  in  the  male,  tern  L  space 
gray  the  subternnnal  space  darker,  making  a  vague  transverse  IZ 
which  is  continued  across  the  secondaries  on  wtich  a  d    caT«P^"^ 
also  apparent.  ^'o^ai  spou  is 

Expanse,  1.90  (male)  to  2.30  (female)  inches  (48  to  68  mm  ) 
lfHhitat.~Co\orai\o;  Texas.  ''• 

I  I'ave  «,nly  a  single  pair  of  this  fine  species,  through  the  courtesv  of 
Mr.  l>hilip  Laurent;  hence  1  can  not  speak  as'to  variations  ^r Tave 
I  any  better  or  more  accurate  localities  than  above  given.    The  s pedes 

::^r;;;Le'gS;r"^^""^^"^^^^'^^-^-'-'^^ 

PANTHEA  PORTLANDIA  Grote. 
(Plates  IX,  fig.  4,  female  a.lnlt;  XIV,  lign.  i,  5,  head  and  thorax-  XV   fl.    -         , 

rana..aj>ortlandia  GHOTK,  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Roe.n.  Mus.,  Hildeah,  1896,  N...  3  p   u 
Ground  color  white  or  nearly  so,  more  or  less  i>lack  powdered     Collar 
with  a  smoky  shading  at  base  and  blackisli  line  at  tip     Pata^  1 

reTase  o'f  tttllorf  ^'  Tu  ''''  ^"^  '""''^'^^  «^  ^^^'^^  ^^ 

\Z    1!  "" ''  •''''^  ^'^'^^  **W^'^'-    «»  the  primaries  the  black 

powdering  is    as  a  whole,  more  dense  along  the  inner  marg^,  td 

before  the  snbterminal  line,  which  is  thus  shaded.    It  also  ?e  ulfto 

Ittrc^t..?  r^  ';''"  ""'"^"  ''''''''     ^^^^^^^  "-  traceabl'e  on  ; 

ttle  irregnUi ,  but,  as  a  whole,  outwardly  oblique.    Transverse  posterior 
hue  upright  to  vein  4,  but  a  little  toothed  on  the  veins:  iXw  th' 
point  with  an  even  incurve  broken  by  a  tooth  on  the  submedirvein 
Median  shade  line  well  marked,  as  broad  or  broader  tha'h    X  ' 
almost  ngully  upright  to  the  submediaii  interspace,  below  whc^  it 

1  eutiy  toothed.    The  most  pro.niuent  teeth  are  on  veins  3  and  4  and 

lot  ':ttz  lb!:"" '  ^"  '\  ^"' ' '''' ''  ^etween-^hest' ::' 

louow  vtin  4  the  line  is  incurved  and  less  conspicuously  dentate 

"a  bH..|cl^     ,  '^"  ''  ''''"'"^'  ^"'  '^'  ^«"*f«r'"  ^«  present  either 

|.^  a  black  lunule  or  as  a  crescent  with  black  mardn  and  wl,iH«i. '  .0.,.,! 

I  Zri^T;;i^:.^r!:i^'^^^^  ^,,,,,,,,.    ^econdarie^^hi^sh,; 


u 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


little  dnsky  at  the  base,  and  with  a  blackish,  rtift'nse,  exterior  band. 
Beneath,  primarifeB  Huioky  to  the  terminal  space,  all  the  markings  of  the 
apper  side  faintly  visible;  terminal  space  powdery  white;  secondaries 
whitish,  with  two  narrow  and  one  broad,  diffnse,  smoky  transverse 
bands. 

Expanse,  1.00  to  1.90  inches  (40  to  48  mm.). 

Habitat.— Victoria,  and  Corfleld,  Vanconver;  Northwest  British 
Columbia;  Seattle,  Washington;  Portland,  Oregon. 

This  species  has  been  taken  in  some  numbers  by  Dr.  Dyar,  at  light, 
and  seems  to  be  not  uncommon.  It  is  tlie  palest  of  all  our  species  and 
easily  distinguishable  from  those  resembling  it  in  size.  There  seems  to 
be  little  variation,  save  in  the  amount  of  the  black  powdering. 

•  PANTHEA  ACRONYCTOIDES  Walker. 
(Plates  IX,  «g..5,  male;  fig.  6,  female  adult;  XIX,  tig.  4,  male  genitalia.)  . 

Audela  aoronyctoUlen  VValkeh,  Can.  Nat,  and  (ieol.,  1861,  VI,  p.37.— Gbote,  Can. 

Ent.,  1877,  IX,  p. 27;  Hull.  Geol.  Surv.,  1878,  IV,  p.  169. 
Panihea  acronyctoideii  Smith,  List  Lepidoptera,  1891,  p.  34. 
Panthea  hucomelana  Moukison,  Proc.  Ac.  Nut.  Sci.,  Phila.,  1875,  p.  428.— Grote, 

Bull.  Geol.  Surv.,  1878,  IV,  p.  169,  pr,  syn. 

Ground  color  white  or  nearly  so,  quite  heavily  powdered  with  smoky 
and  black  scales.    Disk  of  thorax  smoky ;  tip  of  collar  black ;  patagiae 
crossed  by  two  blackish  bands.    Primaries  quite  heavily  powdered  with 
smoky  or  black,  the  tendency  being  to  leave  the  basal  space  moderately 
pale,  the  cell  almost  whitish,  and  the  terminal  space  gray.    Basal  line 
black  and  traceable  across  the  cell.    Transverse  anterior  line  single, 
almost  upright,  but  well  outcurved  in  the  interspaces.    It  is  variable  in 
width  and  in  definition.    Transverse  posterior  line  irregular,  narrow, 
denticulate,  strongly  incurved  in  the  submedian  interspace.    Median 
shade  line  distinct,  broad,  diffuse,  usually  parallel  with  the  transverse! 
posterior  line;  the  tendency  being  to  fill  the  space  between  these  lines  j 
completely.    Subterminal  line  very  strongly  dentate;  much  as  in  port- 
landia,  but  the  teeth  yet  more  marked.    The  subterminal  space  is  smoky  I 
almost  to  the  transverse  posterior  line,  leaving  only  a  narrow  white 
shade.    There  is  a  terminal  dusky  line  tending  to  break  into  spots,  andl 
the  terminal  space  is  blackish  powdered,  sometimes  becoming  smoky. 
The  orbicular  is  present  as  a  black  dot;  the  reniform  as  a  small  black 
crescent.    Secondaries  whitish;  more  dusky  at  base,  with  a  blackisli 
submarginal  band  which  shades  gradually  toward  the  base  and,  as  al 
whole,  the  female  is  much  darker  than  the  male.    Beneath  whitish,  both 
wings  crossed  by  three  rather  indeflned  smoky  bands,  which  are  much 
better  defined  on  the  secondaries. 

Expanse,  1.45  to  1.55  inches  (36  to  38  mm.). 

ffabitat.—mver  Rouge  in  June;  Canada;  Maine;  New  York;  Massa 
chusetts;  Minnesota;  Wisconsin;  Corfleld,  Vancouver. 

This  is  the  smallest  of  the,  species  in  average  exp.snse,  thoufyh  speci 


NO.  1140. 


yonm  AMEIUCAN  NOrrvmAE-SMlTH  JSn  DYAU, 


)st    Britisli 


mons  of /iirci fin  run  below  if     Jt  la  ^    *  i-.  ~ ' - 

a"  ti,o  t..et.,  exa««era;ir„ia  .::;z::  ^^^z""'' z'rT'  "'•"■ 

(li.rken  tl.o  Npaie  between  the  media..  ..  wi  7  ^  tendency  to 

Mniten.arkedin„.o8tspeci    e.r  tI^^^^^^^  ""^*«^'"''  ''»«  •« 

orbicnlar  is  developed    b,riTodofv  "'«  ^''^^  «I»«cie8  in  wl.i.^h  the 

.he  specimens  I  hale  had  Ltre  1     "'*  "^"""*^  ''  '«  ^— ^  -  "" 

DEMAS  Stephens. 
7.m«.  STKP„KN8,  111.  nrit.  Ent,  Haust.,  182'.,  II,  p.  59. 
Plump,  yet  somewhat  slightly  bnilt  sne,.i««    ™.fi       . 
very  short  thorax,  long,   cylinLcl    abdomen   Id  T    "''"'  '^"^'' 
[  fngonate  primaries.  '"momen,  and  large,  narrowly 

scarcely  «,c.i„r.;,et'„\  :    ,  vl  ^^J: ^  BTe,',"-"*  T' '    '■""•■ 
.small  and  concealcl.    Antennae  ITJ,  nl\    /T      F'    "™"'  ™'y 

tl'e  n,ale,  s ,le  in  tie  fema  e  " 'e,nW  !l  ^f  """'^  l>ectinated  in 

Tl,„,.ax  ve.V  short  a,:dTveaCw™  f  h^  HT'T"  '"  '""  "'°^''- 

well  marked,  vertiture  composed  of  Itfell?*'      f  '""^  '"""e»« 

1.0  .„«».    Tl,e  logs  are  short  afdl""  '"'l  7  .Tir'":'  '"""'"^ 

|»>dy,  clothe<l  with  leuKtMv  hair  a„<I  ...  .1        ^         l'roP»rt.on  to  the 

[...ai  spur,,  Which  .ree:;[r:c;::^:„  j;,:--'«--  --.-* »-« 

Primaries  with  the  costa  and  ilu^.       '"proportion  to  the  thorax. 

miens  rather  abruptJfat  has     './'''''•"  ^''^''^  ^"  *^^*  ^^^^  ^^ng 

^,>icesrectangular;aLtLn;oint^    y3  '^'"^^"^'  ^^^"^^«'  *^^ 
|l)e  accessory  cell  is  narrow  il.  V°^^'«"  °or«»«l,  except  that 

ccasionally^anting    S^lTs^rlT^^^^^  'T^  ""  ^^"' ^"^ 

hetl.er  from  the  end  of  the  small  eel     ;!'    '.i!  ?!*  ^^  ^'"  ^"''^  *^'««« 

ontinuing  the  subcostal  ZsTiZa:^   t  J^  ^'^^"^  ^^«  «^^'^ 

Secondaries  proportionate,  rather  narrow  venlf in.,  n 

IS  as  strong  as  any  others  La  arises  cSl^Tfr^rthetrr  ''"* 

The  genus  is  closely  related  to  Panthea,  and  dirterT^.Meflv  h^H    T"" 

f  the  primar  es,  which  arp  1ps«  tr,o,.     .         •  ,  "*^^'*  <  uietly  in  the  form- 

ke  .abruptly  ^^ide.      ^t^r'SrH  ''"'""  "'*«'  «'^"'  -"» 
Ml  more  weak  and  the  Ltl  Znl     .      .  ,  ,°'''"'  '^"'^  y«*  waller 

yoportionate  lengt,  e:^li:i  rinT^eT^'l  ^'^^VaM  """"""'"  "' 
|«lly  of  the  nrnle,  seem  unnsu.ally  short  l^m-Jl!' «  ''»'«"»'«^.  espe- 
fcto'o  than  in  the  other  species     In  nTlh!     *    ^f  "  '™'  """■''<«•  "' 

oportionately  longer  thriTthot  I^^Z'  *""  """"*"''-  -« 

J /*-o^m,?mZwm  resemble..,  Pa.>*j..^f^  ^x,^  .    ^„  5'°''*- 

|Mch  .are  single  and  .uiteVellma.-e-d  ^VtX  Lrver'ptt'S 


20 


I'ltnCEKinNdS  OF  THE  X.tTfOXAL  MVSKVM, 


Vol.  XXI. 

lino  JH  iMoro  i.orniully  aiul  evenly  hiHiriiiute,  and  the  median  lino  U 
dimisi*  and  obwuiie.     HoMi  ordinary  M|«)t.s  an^  prcHent. 

FlavivorniH  lookn  >iiucli  like  th«  preceding',  uikI  Iuih  lioen  iionfnsed 
witli  It.  Tl.o  nuMlian  liiM-H  ar«  nmcli  nion^  .shMuler  and  aro  ronnected 
in  tlio  nud<lle  of  tlio  winj,',  wiiile  tlui  median  Hliado  liiut  is  altoKethor 
wanting.  Tliero  are  nuuicrouH  otlicr  points  of  dittorence.  bnt  tliese  will 
serve  liere. 

lUthita  iH  the  prettiest  of  all  the  species,  with  the  vestitnre  sniootli 
tlie  niarliings  clearest,  black,  and  Hlen<ler,  on  a  dean  jjray  ba.ikground' 
and  the  median  8i)at!e  more  or  less  black  lllled.    Tiie  median  lines  are 
conneiited  by  a  cn.ss  line,  and  the  n.edian  .shade  line  is  niore  or  less 
obvious. 

There  is  no  marked  agreement  or  disagreement  in  the  sexual  chaiac 
ters,  wliich  are  ratlicr  indefinite  and  without  obvious  type. 
In  tabuhir  form  the  species  are  as  follows: 

AVALVTICAL  KKY   TO  THE   SI'KCFKH  OK   I)KMA8. 

Median  linos  not  joined  or  connected;  median  Hhado  line  distinct...., ,ropin«tt,7,„c« 

Maildngs  obscure,  Krayish-powdery,  not  well  dollned;  no  median  shade  line. 

Mark.ngs  hla.k,  sharply  defined  on  a  clear  hlno-gray  ground;  median  shade 
line  present ;  median /space  more  or  lesH  black  tilled palata. 

DEMAS  PROPINQUILINEA  Grote. 

(Plates  VIII,  Jijr.  3r,,  larva;  IX,  fig.  7,  n.nlc;  fig.  8,  female  adult;  XIX,  fig..  5,  male 

genitalia.) 

CV(orflrfrai»-oj»iH7«i7mmGR()TK,  Trans,  Am.  Knt.  Soc,  1873,  IV,p.2!):?  pi  i   tig  9(i 
Apatdn  propiminilinm  I'ackaud,  l-Mfth  Kept.  U.  8.  Ent.  Comm.,  1890,'  p.  499 

Dmas 2»07;iH7HJZinm  Smith,  Hull.  44,  ir.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  189.S,  p.  32. 
Ground  color  white  or  nearly  so,  with  brown  and  black  powderiugs,! 
giving  the  insect  a  dusty  gray  appearance.    Head  almost  white,  with  J 
a  yellow  tinge,  while  the  male  antenna  is  distinctly  yellow.     Collar 
with  a  vague  dark  shading  centrally.     I  )isk  of  thorax  smoky  posteriorly. 
Patagiae  blackish  at  tip  and  with  two  narrow  blackish  bauds.     Prima 
Ties  with  all  the  markings  blackish  and  (airly  evident,  though  not 
prominent.     Basal  line  traceable  through   hy  rell.    Transverse  anterior! 
line  broad,  single,  upright,  or  even  iiiwarfM.\  obU/  o.e,  with   ir  j  feeble 
outcurves.    Transverse  posterior  line  v-r.^  .  ^  nV,  oisinuate,  outwardly] 
denticulate  on  the  veins,  inwardly  a  little  indelinite.    Median  shade 
broad,  diffuse,  almost  rigidly  upright,  and  may  be  nearest  to  either 
transverse  anterior  or  transverse  posterior  line.     It  does  not  touch 
either  in  my  specimens,  and  the  median  lines  are  not  in  any  way  con 
JsRcted.    Subterminal  line  denticulate  on  the  veins,  a  little  irregular,! 
•MM  ii.s  ii  whole  parallel  to  the  outer  margin ;  inwardly  diffuse,  outw*'ardly 
;elined  by  a  white  shad'-ig.    A  dusky  terminal  line  is  preceded  by  pale 
lunules,  which  are  vai      >ly  distinct  in  the  specimens.    The  orbicular  isl 
round  or  nearly  so,  brown  ringed,  centered  with  the  white  ground  color.! 


ynmi,  ty/BincAX  xncrnntK-MMnrr  ixn  nvAR. 


'opinquilinea. 


NO  1140       ..^^...  "'<^«t^Jti^  ■^"VTrin.iK-sMfTn  tsn  dvar  2I 

Hl;;:r't"::,:;z  ™X'  ",nM"'«:;;'  "T""'""  ; '--"^  "•"- 

mii.li  moid  lumiy  riuiii  Muwe  of  r/*/i  .•/„/....        1.    "  .   '"*'"'^«"  imitlim 

-  - "  "p-  - .'  "tt,„  t„„  .i.r.;„tt."t  o'";;;„';:;,;r'  '■""'""  -' 

LARVA. 

lll.e  b„,ly  e.e.e„t  ,„.  ,i t  ..    Wi„iL  on,",.';"';;,,,^"  """'  "'"'•'"  "" 

W'  it  .i,„v6,  »,„e„,ii„g  u„„.,.,i,  .;„„„,:„;  - :  t ';,':!  7:  "'■" 

..,M„„1  warts  VI,  til]  tbo  l,o.l,y  ,„ay  be  l.carly  ,^1  bb T    ,1        ^"7 
[yhlW.  '  "'*  """■  '""""'«  "  »"'(-'!«  tuft.    «,,i,aeles 

pr;"--'"""' """  f™il;  "  few  threa,!,  .,pu„  betwee,,  leaves 

;;:«'  eatt:i':,:;L:r^c;:  'T'"f^  '"'"'^"■«'  '--^-fy  »-.ti! 


*od  plants.— liivch,  waluut, 


inai»Ie,  oak,  beech. 


22 


PliOCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


DEMAS  FLAVICORNIS  Smith. 

(Plates  IX,  fig.  n,  nialft;  flg.  10,  female  adult;  XVI,  fign.  2,  3,  4,  venation;   XVII, 
fig.  H,  legs;  XIX,  lig,  6,  male  genitalia.) 

Dcmaa  Jlavicorma  Smith,  Bull.  Bkln.  Ent.  Soc,  1884,  VII,  p.  3. 
Demaa  propinquilinea  Smith,  Bull.  44,  IT.  S.  Nat.  Mus,,  1893,  p.  32. 

Ground  color  a  very  pale  dusty  gray,  on  which  all  the  markings  are 
obscurely  defined.  Antennae  of  male  yellow,  head  otherwise  immac- 
ulate. Collar  smoky  tipped.  Disc  of  the  thorax  smoky  and  patagiae 
with  a  smoky  tip  and  cross  band.  Primaries  with  the  ornamentation 
smoky  and  in  very  slight  relief.  Transverse  anterior  line  narrow, 
single,  almost  upright  or  even  inwardly  oblique,  with  a  single  outward 
tooth  below  the  cell  to  meet  a  similar  procjess  from  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line.  Transverse  posterior  denticulate  and  a  little  outcurved 
over  the  cell,  then  with  a  deep  incurve  to  meet  the  spur  from  the 
transverse  anterior  line.  The  inferior  inclosed  median  8i)ace  is  usually 
the  darkest  part  of  the  wing.  Subterminal  line  denticulate,  parallel 
with  the  outer  margin  and  shading  insensibly  into  the  palest  ground 
color  inwardly.  Terminal  space  dusky,  ending  in  a  broken  dusky  ter- 
minal line,  which  is  preceded  by  pale  lunules.  Orbicular  round,  brown 
ringed,  with  a  pale  center.  Eeniform  narrow,  upright,  incompletely 
outlined  in  smokj'.  Secondaries  thinly  scaled;  whitish  in  the  female, 
blackish  in  the  male.  Beneath  gray  to  smoky,  with  a  vague  outer  line 
and  discal  spot. 
Expanse,  1.10  to  1.75  inches  (27  to  44  mm.). 

ifa7n<a^.— Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  May;  Albany,  New  York,  May 
12;  Long  Island,  New  York. 

In  this  species  the  male  is  much  smaller,  darker,  and  more  obscurely 
marked  than  the  female.  As  a  whole  the  space  beyond  the  middle  is 
distinctly  paler  than  toward  the  base,  and  this,  with  the  united  median  | 
lines,  will  serve  to  identify  the  species. 

In  a  general  way  this  species  resembles  the  propinqmlinea  of  Grote,l 
and  I  was  so  often  informed  in  letters  that  my  name  was  a  synonym 
that  I  accepted  the  fact  after  an  examination  of  Mr.  Grote's  material 
in  the  British  Museum,  in  which  only  one  form  is  represented.  Com  I 
paring  the  true  propinquilima  with  the  real  Jiavicornk,  side  by  side.j 
proves  them  abundantly  distinct,  though  both  have  yellow  antennae^ 
The  sexual  structures  are  also  suftlciently  distinct,  so  that  my  name! 
must  be  reinstated.  The  range  of  this  species  is  probably  similar  toj 
that  of  propimiuUinca  and  is  certainly  much  greater  than  above! 
given. 


.NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


23 


,  vonation;   XVII, 


ew  York,  May 


DEMAS    PALATA  Grote. 

(Plato  X,  fig.  1,  male  ndulf.) 

Charadrapalata  GnoTE,  Can.  Knt.,  1880,  XII,  p.  258;  Papilio,  1881,  I,  p  153 
Paiithea  palata  Smith,  J.ist  Lepidoptoru,  1891,  p.  34. 

(Irouncl  color  whitish,  densely  powdered  with  black,  thus  giving  the 
insect  a  very  bright,  bUie-gray  appearance.    Collar  and  patagiae  black 
t  ipped,  and  the  disc  of  the  thorax  is  also  blackish.    Primaries  with  the 
(.iiiameutation  black,  the  lines  narrow  and  sharply  defined.    Basal  line 
traceable.    Transverse  anterior  line  single,  broader  than  the  others, 
outwardly  convex,  but  as  a  whole  its  course  obli(iuely  inward,  the  line 
being  closer  to  the  base  at  the  inner  than  at  the  costal  margin.    Trans- 
verse posterior  line  slender,  somewhat  irregular  in  the  upper  portion 
of  its  course,  as  a  wliole  inwardly  oblique  and  rather  feebly  bisinuate. 
Median  shade  broad,  diffuse,  darkening  the  space  between  the  ordi- 
nary spots,  and  lost  in  the  dark  shading  in  the  inferior  portion  of 
m.dian  space.    Th,  median  lines  are  connected  by  a  black  bar  in  the 
siibmedian  interspace,  and  below  this  the  space  is  blackish.    Subter- 
niinal  line  slender,  black,  only  a  little  irregular,  and  as  a  whole  parallel 
witii  the  outer  margin.    A  dusky  terminal  line  is  preceded  by  a  series 
[of  pale  lunules.      Orbicular  .moderate  in   size,  upright,  oval,  black 
ringed  and  black  centered;   the  intervening  space  gray,      lieniform 
!  upright,   somewhat  lunate,  black  ringed,  centered  with  gray.     The 
I  tiansverse  anterior  line  is  preceded,  the  transverse  posterior  and  sub- 
tenninal  are  followed,  by  paler  shades.    A  darker  shading  runs  through 
the  center  of  the  subterminal  space,  best  marked  near  the  internal 
I  margin.    Secondaries  white  in  the  male,  dusky  in  the  female.     Beneath 
■lay,  secondaries  wliite.    On  the  primaries  the  markings  of  the  upper 
jside  are  vaguely  reproduced;  on  the  secondari.es  there  is  an  exterior 
[dark  band  and  a  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.35  to  1.55  inches  (34  to  38  mm.). 
Habitat. — Colorado ;  Arizona. 

Tliis  is  the  brightest  and  prettiest  of  the  species;  easily  distin- 
guished by  the  clear  black  and  white  powderings,  which  give  the  insect 
a  clean  and  neat  appearance.  It  resembles  /vVrj?//irt  in  appearance  as 
noted  in  the  original  description,  but  is  best  placed  in  Demas,  though 
not  far  remote  from  Panthea. 


r'\ 


CHARADRA   Walker. 
Charadra  Walker,  Cat.  Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1865,  XXXII,  p.  445. 
riiiuip,  well-developed  species,  with  large  though  not  prominent  head, 
I  (piadrate  thorax  and  ratiier  stumpy,  yet  amply  developed  primaries. 

Head  of  good  size,  broad,  distinct,  yet  not  prominent;  front  hardly 
I  convex,  yet  scarcely  li  at;  eyes  large  and  widely  separated;  hairy;  ocelli 
j  well  developed  and  not  concealed.    Tongue  moderately  developed  and 


24 


PtiOCEEDINGS  OF  Tlin  S^Af TONAL  MUSEtM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


useful  for  foediiig.    Palpi  short  and  weak,  liardly  extending  beyond 
the  front  so  as  to  be  visible  from  above.    Antennae  in  tlie  male  rather 

short,  lengthily  pectinated;  in  the  female,  longer,  very  shortly  pectinated. 
Thorax  fairly  developed,  almost  quadrate,  clothed  with  vestiture  com- 
posed of  flattened  hair  and  scales,  forming  ar-  indefinite  little  truncated 
posterior  tuft.  The  collar  and  patagiae  are  distinct.  The  legs  are  well 
developed  and  of  almost  normal  noctuid  proportion  to  each  other 
though  small  in  proportion  to  the  insect.  They  are  clothed  with  rather 
long  hair,  and  are  unarmed  save  for  the  usual  spurs,  which  are  short 
and  weak. 

Abdomen  little  or  not  at  all  exceeding  the  anal  angle  of  the  second- 
aries in  the  male,  and  not  greatly  exceeding  it  in  the  female.  It  is 
more  or  less  conic  in  the  male,  more  cylindrical  in  the  female,  and  in 
both  with  a  series  of  dorsal  scale  tufts  whitih  are  very  easily  removed 

Primaries  of  good  size,  trigonate,  and  yet  with  a  rather  stumpy 
appearance,  which  is  most  strongly  seen  in  dlspulm.  The  costal  margin 
18  hardly  one-third  longer  than  the  i.mer,  which  is  strongly  curved 
toward  base.    The  venation  is  quite  normal. 

Secondaries  proportionate.  Vein  5  quite  as  strong  as  the  others  and 
arising  close  to  4. 

Altogether  this  is  a  strongly  marked  genus  with  an  abundance  of 
distinctive  characters,  not  the  least  of  which  are  the  pectinated  anten- 
nae of  the  female. 

The  genitalia  of  the  male  are  of  the  same  general  type,  with  quadrate 
harpes,  a  long  upper  and  a  shorter  lower  clasper.  They  are  quite 
complicated,  however,  and  very  different  from  each  other:  hence  need 
not  be  further  discussed  here. 

Three  species  occur,  and  of  these  I  do  not  know  decom  Morrison  I 
have  never  seen  the  type  nor  do  I  know  where  it  is.  No  collection 
known  to  me  has  a  named  specimen,  and  I  suspect,  from  the  description 
that  the  insect  does  not  belong  to  this  series  at  all.  The  "simple" 
antennae— it  is  not  stated  whether  of  male  or  female— will  serve  to 
exclude  it  from  this  genus. 

BerUiens  is  somewhat  the  larger  of  the  two  species  known  to  me 
and  has  the  markings  black  and  sliarply  defined.    The  median  lines 
are  centrally  (jonnected  and  the  ordinary  spots  are  black  centered 

IMspvIsa  is  much  paler  and  has  a  washed-out  ai»pearance  The 
median  lines  are  slender  and  not  in  any  way  connected,  while  the  ordi- 
nary spots  are  vaguely  yellow  and  without  trace  of  any  dark  centering. 

Jn  tabular  form  the  two  species  appear  so: 

ANALYTICAL    KKY    TO   TFIK    8PKCIKS   OK   CIIARADRA. 

Markings  1>lack,  sharply  defined;  media.i  lines  conne.^ted  centrally;  ordinary  spots 
luack  centered ,    .^ 

Markin„H  l.lackisb,  not  sharply  defined  noi^onVraVtingVn.'edian'liurs'noVconnect'ed' 
ordinary  spots  yellowish,  not  dark  centered dispiilm. 


NO.  1140. 


^^o^rfl^_^j?/c^A^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^ 


lowu  to  me, 


25 


CHARADRA   DERIDENS  Guen6e. 


(I  lates  IX,  fig.  12,  mule  adult;  XV    tias   1    o  „„*„ 

XIX,  hg.8,  nmlegenitiiliii.)  .<*,••>,  legs, 

Wi)/«erarferiden8GuKVj;:K,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct    1852  I  n  '^-^     i 

Cat.  Brit.MuB.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p!  36  '   '  ^"     '  ^^- "''  "S"  8— Wai.kbr, 

Charadra  deridena  Guotk  and  R()niv>4nw'  t„„.      a      t^ 

Ko„,™oN,  T„„,.  Am.  K„,.  So..,  ,w,  I,  p  ^^  '"f ',^„''  ''  ™-««OT„  .„d 

ami  i„feriorly  a  little  dnskr  tTtairiJ^  w  H  n  "  TT'"'  '"'"''  ''"°'' 
tipped.  Diseofthoraxbackp;w5^?iT''pH,'""'""'  .''»'"'  ""•'  ''I'""' 
tatio,,  black  aud  coutrastirg  ZlThalf  nrn  "f  "'"' ""  """"""" 
the  subcostal  vein.  TnuJ^^^^^^,^'^^^'^;-^}"'  "-oken  „„ 
costa  and  then  almost  unriffht  to  inno,  '      ^'®'  ^^"*^  *^»  <^*^e 

-v..,.i  .K-tb  at  its  ™iadr:r„:et  r,  ;'s,?.^;:L"ft,rt""'^"'''- 

posterior  line.    Transverse  nnsfprm.  i       "  "®'^'*f '<^»  ot  t lie  transverse 

over  the  cell,  denticulate    Ate  vets  a^dr;:    i  '  1'  ^^  ^'^''^'^  ^^^ 
of  the  transverse  anterior  line     m1?i^        ,    f  ^  '  "'  *''  "^^^  ^^^  ^oth 

than  black,  a  little  beToVthe  -^^'^'' '  -  '  ^''''"''''  '^'^'' 

the  ordina'ry  npots  t:\rtner  tiZnS^r'' '^'^ 
inwardly  diffuse,  outwardly  deJedZ  ",,it  ,"7'"'  ""  ^^"^'^' 
but  not  dentate,  best  mar'ked  tolrd"^  thrmL!^^^^^^^ 
vague  centrally.  There  is  a  seriP^  of  hi!  i  f"^"^^.'"^  '^"<1  often  quite 
which  the  fringe  is  duskroS^' ^^  '""'r'  ^"""'««' beyond 
lined,  with  a  laTge  cen  raf  bla^k  sno  t^lT"^'  incompletely  out- 
marked  in  black!  outwardly  As  a  whohftiT  "f "'^^'  "^^''^^'^'  ^««^ 
dered,  there  is  a  clear  shado  itl  ""   "^\*''^  ^^^^^  «Pace  is  well  pow- 

media'n  space  is  ^    e  el  ™^^^^^^^^^^  "^^^'••-  ^'-'  ^"^^ 

follows  the  transverse  posterior  m.P     ^'  '  "!^*^'^"  ^^^^^^^^  ^  ^'^ar  shade 
a.ea  that  soinetimeslCT,  .    ^^^^    Tjl  ^"'1  '^  ^  ^^"^^^ 

,  line.    Terminal  space moderaterpow^  S  *" 'T-^  '^"""*'  ""^^^ 

what  paler  basally:  a  dark  line  -ft    b!  i        ^f^^^''^^  «n,oky,some- 

I  whitish  and  cut  with  smokv    V       ?      '^  *"*  *''"  ^""^^^^'  ^^'"«»^  ^re 

I  .ray  outward  rblyondrdTsky  outer    i  T'""'"  ""^'^  "'  ^'^  •>'-' 
With  an  ext.  LdL.  d^^Sr^^^H^,-— ^  »--'  -^- 

I     I^xpanse,  1. 1(.  to  1.80  inches  (35  to  45  mm  ) 

chnsettsin  July?Evan^^^^^^^^^^^^^  '"^"^^  '^"'>'5  Massa- 

I  York"  in  May.       "^^^""^  ^^"^^^  ^"^^  Aharon,  ^ew  York,  in  Julyj  "  Js'ew 

,     This  species  is  easily  recognized  bv  its  Inr.o  «,-..  ^.„,,5,..r 
|"".ed  primaries  and  united  median  lines:    The  ;.:i^;:;^^r;::^3 


i  J 


26 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


to  the  amount  and  extent  of  the  black  powdering,  and  even  in  size 
the  range  is  not  great  if  the  sexes  are  separately  compared,  the  male 
being  almost  uniformly  larger  than  the  female. 

LARVA. 

SAUNDEK8,  Can.  Ent.,  1870,  II,  p.  145.— Lintner,  Twenty  sixth  Rept.,  N.  Y.  State 
Cab.  Nat.  Hist.,  1872,  p.  157,  tig.  12.-Packauij,  Am.  Nat.,  1874,  VIII,  p.  692.— 
TiiAXTKif,  Fapilio,  1883,  III,  p.  11.— DiMMOCK,  Psyche,  1885,  IV,  p.  274.- 
Packaud,  Fifth  Kept.  U.  8.  Ent.  Comm.,  1890,  p.  166. 

^//flf.— Hemispherical,  with  flat  base  and  distinct  vertical  ridges, 
diminishing  above  and  ending  by  becoming  flattened  to  the  surface  of 
the  egg  near  the  micropyle;  number,  alxmt  28,  Reticulations  distinct, 
rather  square,  a  line  at  the  vertex  of  each  rib  and  one  in  each  groove 
only  slightly  wavy;  the  (!ross  reticulations  forming  the  striae,  all 
equally  distinct.  Reticulations  smaller  at  the  micropyle.  Diameter, 
0.9  mm. ;  height,  0.45  mm.  Color  pale  whitish  green,  later  wifh  a  black 
dot  at  vertex  and  a  narrow  concentric  ring  one-third  the  way  down 
irregular  or  broken.  ' 

Stage  /.—Flattened,  the  legs  spreading.  Head  rounded,  whitish; 
width,  0.5  mm.  Body  whitish,  green  from  the  food;  cervical  shield 
reddish  and  a  series  of  red  subdorsal  patches  over  wart  II,  very  dis- 
tinct on  joints  3  to  7,  entirely  absent  elsewhere.  Warts  many  haired, 
the  hair  black  and  white,  spinulose,  the  long  ones  smooth  distally.' 
Wart  I  with  4  hairs,  II  single,  III  with  many  hairs,  IV  absent,  V  sin- 
gle; no  subprimaries.    Skin  spinulose,  especially  dorsally. 

Stage  //.—Head,  0.9  mm.  wide,  all  pale  whitislj.  Body  whitish,  food 
dark,  against  which  a  whitish  subdorsal  line  is  defined.  Five  dark- 
red  subdorsal  spots  as  before.  Warts  pale,  large,  and  rounded,  espe- 
cially the  subdorsal  on  joint  2,  wliich  is  large  and  orgyia-like.  All 
many  haired;  VI  present.  Hairs  black  and  white.  The  red  spots  fade 
during  the  stage. 

Stage  /I/.— Head  yellow,  a  black  band  over  the  eyes  and  another 
across  at  apex  of  clypeus ;  sutures  of  clypeus  also  black ;  width,  1.5  mm. 
Body  whitish,  broadly  gray  dorsally,  with  a  central  stripe,  narrow 
subdorsal  and  broader  lateral  bands,  all  faint.  Hair  from  distinct 
warts,  short  from  I  and  II,  long  from  the  lower  part  of  III  and  sub- 
ventrally;  wart  IV  nearly  obsolete. 

Stage  /F.— Head  black,  a  yellow  band  across  the  clypeus,  trisected 
by  the  black  sutures ;  width,  1.9  mm.  Body  all  pale  whitish,  with  long 
white  hairs  from  the  warts.  Rests  in  a  house  of  two  leaves  webbed 
together. 

Stage  F.— No  change.    Width  of  head,  2..>  mm. 

Stage  F/.— No  change.    Width  of  head,  3.5  mm. 

Stage  F//,— ISo  change.  Head  shining  black,  rather  densely  fine 
hairy;  three  large  yellow  spots,  one  occupying  the  central  part  of  the 
clypeus,  the  others  on  each  side  of  clypens,  triangular,  somewhat  above 
the  level  of  the  eyes;  width,  l.,">  mm.    Body  whitish,  immaculate,  cov- 


NO.  1140. 


NORTU  AHEBICAS  NOOTV I DAE-SMITH  AND  DTAB.  27 


«red  with  tnft,,  of  long,  fine,  ailkywlute  hair  from  di^tinc^b  w'.rl^-  no 

T^tl  T  Vr '""' "'*•* """■^ «'" '■™" *>■«  igir;art 

^  w-'te.    Wa'rts  paieC!  haLhite    "'  "'"'  ""'''  •""•"  »»' 

tVo»«  -Thin,  rather  loose, with  some  rtoss  silk  on  theioside     Son,, 
between  leaves.  ^  ^ucinHiue.    opun 

Pnpa.-Kohnst,  smooth,  and  shiniiiff,  dark  brown  all  tl.A  .m«.  •     , 

segments  gently  tapering,  theconsolidL,  aLlp^^^^^^^^ 

:i;rS;sutes^o";n.:rT''^  ^^^/'^"^  «'"^"^^'  «-^^  sCenedT 
the  incisures.    Cre.naster  large,  a  loiig  thick  cylinder  slightly  bulbous 

.   the  end,  corrugated  and  wrinkled,  bearing  at  the  tip  a^urved^^^^^^^^^ 
of  nmnerous  hooks,  stout,  the  central  ones  longest  and  larger  ,tt^e 
end  than  base,  the  apices  completely  recurved  and  overlapprj 
Food plant8.-Oak,  birch,  elm.  "v«napping. 

CHARADRA   DISPULSA  Morrison. 
(Plates  IX,  %.  11,  foxnale  adult;  XIV,  tig.  2,  head  and  thorax;  XV  figs  3  4  anf«n 
nae.  aaale;  XVI,  tig.  5.  venation;  XIX,  tig.  7,  male  ger;taHao' 

Charadra  dispuUa  MoRnisoN,  Proc.  Best.  Hoc.  N.  H    1874  XVII  n  ^ii      h 

Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1875,  III,  p.  4.  '        '  '  ^^  ^I^-Harvey, 

Ground  color  white,  with  very  fine  black  or  brown  powdering.  nft«. 
with  yellowish  tinge  over  all.    Antennae  of  ma^  brownTsh     '(^nH 

:'n t^ow  bf ';^^  '^^^  '^^^^  ^^^  ^''-  ^^tagiae^tckXpTd'and  w  th 
.1  nan ow  black  transverse  band;  disk  of  thorax  also  with  black  and 
y  How  scales  intermixed.  Primaries  with  the  ordinary  Hues  slender 
black,  and  not  too  well  deHned.  Basal  line  feebl/drveToped  and 
■scarcely  raceable.  Transverse  anterior  line  slender,  blacrverv  little 
outcuived,  and  narrowing  quite  regularly  from  costk  to 'nner  m^^^^^^^ 
Transverse  posterior  line  slemler,  very  abruptly  bent  ove     he  cell  fnd 

"etnrotcirZ'''^^",  '''^  '"^'^^"   'bade  whe^best^'rk  d 
inJo    V    ^     '     ^"^^'  ''""^  ""^'^  ^^^^ent  costallv.   sometimes  it 
darkens  the  space  between  the  ordinary  snots  a-  d  JT^T     I 
Iscarcely  traceable  below  the  submedian  f  fd,  wh  re'we  sff^ 
gjsfono    a  very  slender  dark  streak  uniting  the  medial  lines     sT 

rminal  line  vague  inwardly  and  scarcely  defined  by  a    a^^^^^^^^^^ 
>sl  ade;  very  irregular,  but  not  dentate.    There  is  a  slenZ  hV.  ,  .^ 
-nalline  which  is  sometimes  broken.    Orbiru;:r  ro^^     ol tJTn 

defined  with     H     ,^^^'"^«^"^  "^^'o^'  ^Vv\ght,  yellowish,  incompletely 
h  Sr  ^:  <l^f  y  «e"tral  line  and  sometimes  followed  by  a  yellow 

fetirr;rh^:s^'t„-tt  :s  z:-i^h:i 

Expanse,  1.37  to  1.50  inches  (34  to  37  mm.). 


■,-H{-l 


28 


PnoCEEDiNGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  ixt. 


1^   'I 


h 


Habitat.— Texas  in  March,  May,  June,  August,  and  October. 

This  is  a  decidedly  whiter  species  and  smaller  than  deridens.  The 
ornamentation  is  much  less  distinct  and  the  median  lines  are  not  con 
nected,  though  there  is  a  vague  suggestion  of  a  very  narrow  line 
through  the  submedian  interspace.  There  is  the  usual  difference  in 
the  amount  of  the  black  powdering,  which  sometimes  gives  the  median 
shade  almost  the  dignity  of  a  band;  but  otherwise  my  specimens 
indicate  no  variation. 

CHARADRA  DECORA  Morrison. 

Charadra  decora  Morrison,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1875,  XXVII,  p.  55. 
flHphthera  cavillator  Guotk,  Can.  Ent.,  1880,  XII,  p.  258. 

This  species  has  been  describer'  by  Morrison,  as  follows: 

Expanse,  57  mm.  Length  of  body,  2.S  mm.  Eyes  hairy.  Antennae  simple,  black. 
Abdomen  yellowish.  Anterior  winys  white,  with  the  usnal  markings  bliick,  wavy, 
and  distinct;  the  ordinary  lines  are  marked  on  the  costa  by  heavy  oblique  lilack 
dashes;  half  line  itresent;  interior  line  strongly  lobed ;  the  orbicular  spot  black, 
flgureeight  shaped,  very  conspicuous;  median  shade  present;  the  reuilorm  spot 
large,  irregular,  open  above  and  below ;  the  exterior  and  subterminal  liu<-«  4re  drawn 
close  together,  forming  wavy,  irregular  bands  across  the  wings;  at  the  costa  and 
internal  angle  the  subterminal  line  forms  large;  black  blotches;  a  series  of  short 
terminal  black  lines  on  the  nervulos ;  fringe  white,  checkered  with  black.  Posterior 
wings  pure  white,  with  a  single  heavy  oblique  black  dash  at  the  anal  angle.  Beneath 
white. 

iira6t<a<.— California. 

This  large  and  beautiful  spociei;  is  slosely  allied  to  our  three  smaller  Eastern  ones. 
The  white  ground  color,  the  peculiarly  shaped  orbicular  spot,  and  the  black  mark 
at  the  anal  angle  of  the  posterior  wings  will  serve  to  identify  it. 

This  must  be  a  striking  species  from  the  description ;  but  I  have  seen 
nothing  like  it.  No  information  is  given  as  to  what  part  of  "  Califor- 
nia" is  to  be  credited  with  this  insect,  nor  is  the  name  of  the  collector 
given.  Mr.  Grote  states  that  the  specimen  is  Central  American,  and 
suggests  its  identity  with  the  Diphthera  cavillator  of  the  British  Museum 
lists,  but  he  does  not  make  the  reference  definitely,  nor  does  he  state 
why  he  denies  the  Californian  habitat  of  tlie  si)ecies.  I  have  little  doubt 
that  Mr.  Grote  is  quite  right  in  this  matter,  but  have  no  material  or 
evidence  to  verify  his  statements,  and  hence  simply  reproduce  the 
description. 

ACRONYCTA   Ochsenheimer. 
Acronycta  Ochsenheimer,  Schmetterlinge,  1816,  IV,  p.  62. 
Species  of  moderately  robust  form,  tending  to  become  slight  in  the  | 
smaller  species.    Head  not  prominent,  yet  usually  distinct,  though 
tending  to  become  sunken.    Eyes  naked  and  of  good  size,  but  not  promi- 
nent; there  are  no  lashes  or  fringes  of  hair  at  the  orbits.    The  front  | 
may  be  somewhat  conic,  evenly  convex,  or  very  much  flattened,  the 
former  occurring  most  obviously  in  the  amcricana  group,  while  the  | 
latter  occurs  most  frequently  in  the  group  auricoma  and  reaches  its  | 


Nil.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  I)TAR. 


nericaii,  and 


,  while  the  I 
reaches  its  j 


29 

climax  in  oblinita  and  its  immediate  allies.  The  flattening  of  the  head 
IS  accompanied  by  a  tendency  to  shorten  and  soften  the  tongue  The 
l.aljn  are  well  developed  though  moderate  in  size,  well  clothed  with 
scales,  the  second  joint  longest  and  stoutest,  the  terminal  short  and 
stumpy.  As  a  whole,  the  palpi  are  oblique  or  curved  upward  on  the 
front,  on  which  they  usually  reach  the  middle,  though  in  group  ameri- 
nina  the  opposite  is  usual.  Ocelli  are  distinctly  present.  The  anten- 
nae are  simple  in  both  sexes. 

The  thorax  is  almost  quadrate,  rather  small  in  proportion,  and  without 
distinct  tuftings.    There  is  a  somewhat  compact  massing  of  scales  pos- 
teriorly, overhanging  the  junction  with  the  abdomen,  but  it  forms  no 
true  tufting.    The  vestiture  is  a  mixture  of  scales  and  scaly  hair  varv- 
ing  somewhat  so  as  to  seem  more  hairy  in  the  americana  series  and 
more  scaly  in  the  lobeliac  group.    The  collar  is  sometimes  a  little 
uplifted,  but  not  at  all  prominent,  and  usually  lies  closely  applied  to 
the  body  of  the  thorax.    The  patagiae  are  also  applied  to  the  body,  so 
that  m  a  well-preserved  specimen  at  rest  the  thorax  is  evenly  though 
somewhat  feebly  convex.    The  legs  are  moderately  stout  and  propor- 
tionate, not  spinulated  or  in  any  way  armed  except  as  usual  on  the  tarsi 
and  with  the  spurs  of  the  middle  and  hind  tibiae  normally  developed! 
The  tibial  epiphysis  of  the  fore  legs  varies  somewhat  in  size  and  posi- 
tion, and  in  fact  the  range  is  as  great  as  in  the  entire  Noctuid  family 
taken  together,  if  we  exclude  the  Deltoids.    There  is  also  a  difference 
in  the  relative  length  of  the  various  members,  but  nothing  that  is  dif- 
ferent  from  what  may  be  found  in  allied  genera.    The  fore  wings  varv 
ni  form  from  broadly  trigou ate  to  narrowly  lanceolate,  while  the  sec- 
ondaries are  proportionate,  with  an  even  outer  margin.    The  outer 
margin  of  the  primaries  is  also  even,  the  fringes  of  moderate  length, 
and  never  scalloped  or  even  wavy.    In  some  species  of  the  lobeliae 
group  there  is  a  little  tendency  to  form  an  obtuse  angulation  at  about 
the  mu  die  of  the  primaries,  but  this  is  vague  except  in  falcula  and 
ijmrauela. 

The  abdomen  exceeds  the  hind  angle  of  the  secondaries,  is  rather 
long  in  proportion  to  the  thorax,  subequal  and  ending  obtusely.    There 

lare  no  doxsal  tuftings,  but  there  is  a  loose  mass  of  fine  hair  laterally  at 
base     In  the  male  the  segments  are  marked  laterally  by  projecting 

lvest:ture,  which  does  not  form  positive  tufts. 

I  The  venation  offers  nothing  peculiar,  and  variation,  so  far  as  it  has 
been  found,  seems  to  be  individual  or  at  most  specific,  and  occurs  only 
in  that  group  originating  from  the  end  of  the  subcostal.  Vein  5  of  the 
secondaries  is  distinctly  more  weak  than  the  others  and  arises  some- 

jwhat  nearer  to  4  than  to  0. 

As  a  whole,  the  characters  of  the  genus  are  negative.    There  is  no 
distinctive  feature,  if  we  except  the  generally  gray  or  white  ground 
{color  and  the  tendency  to  the  formation  of  vsi  markino-.,  on  th.  r..; 
lu.anes.    This  is  not,  in  one  sense,  a  structural  character,  yet  ornamen- 


-t 


m 


30 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vouxxi. 


m 


a 


tation,  when  it  is  of  a  persistent  type,  is  as  much  an  anatomical  fact  as 
the  development  of  other  «Iermal  outgrowths  like  spines  or  claws.  The 
combination,  then,  whicli  makes  the  species  of  this  genus  recognizable 
consists  of  the  somewhat  retracted  head,  rather  short  untufted  thorax, 
rather  long  untufted  abdomen,  unarmed  legs,  simple  antennae  in  botli 
sexes,  and  white  or  gray  primaries,  in  which  there  is  usually  a  black 
basal  dash  and  a  streak  opposite  the  anal  angle,  which  may  or  may  not 
cross  the  transverse  posterior  line. 

It  has  been  the  habit  to  refer  to  this  genus  as  one  in  which  the  adults 
are  remarkably  similar  and  otter  no  strong  characters,  while  the  larvae 
and  even  pupae  afforded  obvious  and  definite  features  for  systematic 
purposes.  These  statements  are  made  without  knowledge  of  the 
structure  of  the  insects  and  the  amount  of  variation  that  actually  occurs. 
Mr.  A.  R.  (irote,  to  whom  we  are  iiidebted  for  the  descriptions  of 
several  of  our  species  of  Acronycta,  has  also  given  us  a  number  of  lists 
and  classifications  in  which  generic  and  subgeneric  names  are  applied 
to  the  groups  and  other  divisions.  These  divisions  are  in  the  main 
based  upon  superficial  appearance  and  resemblance  and  not  upon 
structure  or  other  characters  of  real  systematic  value.  They  were 
therefore  incapable  of  accurate  definition,  and  with  one  exception  none 
of  the  proposed  names  can  be  used.  In  1896  he  published  Die  Apa- 
teliden  as  No.  3  of  the  Mittheilungen  aus  dem  Koemer  Museum  in 
Hildesheim,  and  this  is  biised  upon  larval  characters  supplied  by  Dr. 
Dyar  and  upon  the  published  work  of  Dr.  Chapman.  No  addition  i» 
made  to  our  knowledge  of  adult  structure  and  only  the  order  in  which 
the  species  are  arranged  is  original. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  species  of  Acronycta  afford  excellent  charac 
ters  for  groupings  in  the  adult  stage,  and  this  is  only  what  we  should 
expect.  It  is  unquestionably  true  that  there  may  be  independent  vari- 
ation in  the  larval  stage,  necessitated  by  the  environment,  but  it  is 
equally  true  that  there  can  be  no  variation  in  any  important  structural 
or  anatomical  detail  which  will  not  also  be  marked  in  the  adult.  I  am 
not  so  certain  that  the  opposite  is  true,  however,  and  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  structural  differences  in  the  adult  may  exist  without  obvi- 
ous effect  on  the  early  stages.  I  am  not  inclined  to  fully  agree  with 
Dr.  Scudder  that  genera  are  as  easily  traced  in  the  larva  as  in  the 
imago,  and  rather  believe  that,  while  adaptive  or  protective  variation 
may  occur  in  the  early  stages  without  effect  upon  the  adult,  all  anatom- 
ical differences  originate  in  the  adult.  Variation  in  the  adults  is  also 
determined  very  largely  by  environment,  and  this  is  particularly  true 
of  adaptive  variation.  It  is  quite  conceivable  that  real  changes  of 
structure  may  have  taken  place  which  are  not  in  the  least  indicated  by 
the  superficial  appearance.  This,  indeed,  has  happened  in  Acronycta. 
The  species  as  a  rule  rest  during  the  day  openly  upon  the  trunks  and 
branches  of  trees,  or  upon  stones,  and  their  colors  and  markings  are 
well  adapted  to  harmonize  with  such  surroundings  and  to  render  the 
resting  specimen  invisible.  So  long  as  this  iniaginal  habit  persists 
there  is  not  much  likelihood  of  auy  change  in  the  general  character 


v.iuo.         NORTH  AMERICA  AT  mCTPfDA  E-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  31 

..f  tl,e  ornamentation    whatever  changes  might  take  place  in  other 
directions.  "«uoi 

The  organs  that  are  raost  likely  to  be  first  attected  are  those  of  renro- 
(iuction,  and  m  the  Noctnidae  at  least  those  of  the  n.ale  seen,  particularly 
sensi  ,ve.  I  am  not  ready  to  claim  that  this  is  a  rnle,  because  our 
knowledge  of  the  life  history  of  our  species  and  of  the  larval  structures 
.s  too  incomplete,  but  it  is  certainly  true  in  Acronyeta.  A  good  species 
.s  cer.a.n  to  have  specific  peculiarities  in  all  itsstages,  and  if  we  do 
not  discover  them  the  fault  is  with  us.  Any  sound  system  of  classifi- 
cation  based  on  one  stage  will  harmonize  with  that  built  upon  any  other 
provided  that  the  facts  are  rightly  interpreted.  If  we  accept  evolution 
as  a  fact  it  simply  can  not  be  otherwise,  since  all  changes  must  have 
acted  upon  the  species  as  a  whole,  and  larval  characters  could  not  be 
continued  unless  the  resulting  adult  was  in  turn  affected 

We  find,  therefore,  that  if  we  examine  the  genitalia  of  the  male  in 
Acronyeta,  the  proposed  classiHcations  of  Chapman  and  Dyar  based 
upon  pupae  and  larvae,  are  fully  confirmed,  and  that  even  more  diVisions 
are  indicated  by  this  character.    Dr.  Chapman  finds  two  very  distinct 
pupal  types     Dr.  Dyar  finds  four  series  in  the  larvae,  of  which  two  are 
not  sharp  y  defined     In  the  adults  there  are  five  distinct  genitalic  types 
and  a  sixth  that,  while  recognizable,  leaves  a  few  intermediate  spedes 
unplaced     Unfortunately,  t«o  few  of  the  larvae  are  known  to  make  our 
assihcation  correspond  completely,  but  there  is  no  reasonable  doubt 
.at  our  further  knowledge  will  result  in  the  discoverv  of  characters 
that  will  associate  all  those  forms  agreeing  in  genitalia  structure.    It  L 
in  cresting  to  note  here  that  while  excellent  group  characters  are  obtain- 
able from  these  sexual  structures,  they  are  not  of  much  specific  impor- 
tance m  this  genus,  because  all  the  species  of  each  group  resemble  each 
other  quite  closely  m  this  particular.    The  group  of  which  lohel^l 
typical  varies  most,  and  it  is  from  this  that  modffications  seem  to  radiate 
I'lve  groups  in  this  genus  maybe  typified  hy  americana,  lobeliae,per' 
Wiasa,  hamamehs,  md  auricoma,  reavectively. 

Group  americann  is  well  characterized  by  having,  in  the  male  very 
broad  harpes  or  sidepieces,  from  almost  the  middle  of  which  there  krises 

nnV'n?'^'''  '  k"""'  P""""''-  ^^''  1^^«««««  «««"»«  to  arise  directly 
out  of  the  membranous  structure,  and  is  not  set  on  a  chitinous  ridge 
or  other  separate  strengthening  process  from  the  base.  Superficially 
the  species  agree  in  trigonate  primaries,  in  which  the  outer  margin  il 
ong  and  evenly  curved  to  the  somewhat  prominent  apex.    The  macu 

;lor;:7  iT^'"^'  *"  '^'"^  '^^^'^  *^"^«  ^«  b«««™«  broken  up  into 
blotches,  and  the  pst  marks  are  rarely  prominent.  The  palpi  are  shorten 
than  m  any  other  group  and  hardly  reach  the  middle  of  the  front,  which 
m  the  species  of  this  series  tends  very  strongly  f«  become  con Ll  and 

t  "n";  I'oT""'    '^^\*'!---  -««ture  is  decidedly  less  Laly 
[than  m  the  other  groups,  and  in  some  cases  consists  almost  «nfir.i.  L 

n^^  "''""''""'  ^^"'"'"^  ^'^''-    ^^together  this  group  is  fairly  well 


m 

1 : 

til 
til 

B! 


32 


VliOCKEIHNdS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOU  XXI. 


!!■   M 


III  group  lobeliae  the  liarpes  luo  very  aleinler  and  long  and  the  claspera 
are  broad  and  entirely  separated  from  them,  except  at  the  base.  The 
indivi<lual  chisper  is  long,  broad,  becoming  scoop  shaped  toward  the 
end,  and  at  the  upper  angle  of  this  scoop  a  finger  of  varying  length  and 
curvature  is  developed.  In  many  cases  another  finger-like  process 
arises  from  tiie  middle  of  the  upper  margin  and  projects  at  right  angles 
to  it.  This  structure  is  accompanied  by  much  less  trigonate  primaries 
than  was  founcl  in  the  previous  group.  They  widen  more  abruptly  on 
the  inner  margin,  which  is  more  nearly  parallel  with  the  costa,  and  the 
outer  margin  is  much  shorter,  more  bulging  centrally,  and  meeting  the 
costa  in  almost  a  right  angle. 

Almost  all  the  species  in  which  this  structure  is  typical  have  a  more 
or  less  obvious  basal  dash,  a  distinct  dash  usually  forming  a  pai  oppo- 
site the  anal  angle,  often  a  dash  opposite  the  cell  and  sometimes  a 
black  line  connecting  the  ordiiiary'sjiots.  The  vestiture  in  such  cases 
is  smooth  and  even.  The  first  obvious  superficial  change  is  in  the 
character  of  the  vestiture,  which  becomes  roughened,  wiiile  the  scales 
on  the  primaries  tend  to  become  elevated.  The  typical  markings 
become  obscured  and  the  male  organs  emphasize  the  departure  by 
changing  the  form  of  the  scoop  of  the  clasper  into  a  flat  plate,  then  to 
a  more  cylindrical,  spear  or  beak  shaped  process,  while  the  superior 
process  becomes  in  some  cases  dominant.  In  another  direction,  while 
the  maculation  is  at  first  powdery  the  vestiture  remains  normal,  and 
indeed  becomes  much  more  smooth  and  even,  while  the  dashes  and  psi 
marks  are  reduced  and  become  much  less  prominent. 

It  is  in  this  group  that  the  greatest  diflHculties  in  arranging  the 
species  are  experienced,  because  of  these  several  branchings,  which 
will  not  tit  into  any  linear  series. 

Group  persuasa  is  an  ofishoot  from  the  previous  group  through 
brumosa.  The  clasper  is  broad,  flattened,  chitinous,  united  superiorly  j 
to  the  inferior  margin  of  the  harpe,  furnished  at  the  upper  angle,  of  tip 
with  a  longer  or  shorter,  more  or  less  curved  corneous  process,  and  at 
the  middle  of  the  upper  margin  with  a  finger-like,  upright  process. 
All  tlie  species  agree  in  these  characters. 

Superficially  the  group  is  characterized  by  moderately  trigonate 
primaries,  though  they  tend  to  vary,  but  all  the  maculation  is  obscured 
and  tends  to  become  blotchy.  A  prominent,  pale,  round  orbicular,  with 
a  central  dusky  spot,  is  a  characteristic  feature  and  sometimes  the  only 
contrasting  mark.  The  vestiture  is  extremely  rough  in  most  of  the [ 
species. 

Group  iiamamelu  is  characterized  by  the  comparatively  small,  beak- 
like clasper,  which  arises  from  an  oblique  thickening  on  the  harpes  and 
near  their  center.  Superficially  these  species  are  characterized  by  the 
arched  costa  of  the  primaries,  which  broadens  them  near  the  base  and 
makes  the  inner  and  costal  margins  almost  equal  in  length,  the  outerj 
marcfiu  lieincr  short  and  the  anicAM  almoHf.  rnnnrlprl  TTorp  oio«  fi..^  ««o;-; 
ture  is  distinctly  roughened  in  most  of  the  species. 


Ispecimen  si 


VOL.  XXI. 


(Iroiip  aiinVomn  contains  lorrns  ill  whfM.  .!.„        .      .    '' 

ami  more  slender  superior  hook  '  "'™'''^'V"'""."''P''«™  ""«'  "curve<l 
Tl.e  variation  is  i„  tir^ro^rti":;;;^,^?^''*'^™'"'"'""''*""*^ 
» liicli  tends  to  ol,soles,.e„ce  Processes,  the  lower  of 

.:rr.y  rtzi;;;tti;"".i:n,::r  r  ■:■ »'  "•'""  ^^  ^■'- 

i-Toup,  the  other  by  li„,  ,^0^^;,  1  "'"f ;""""" <"  "'»J"'-«''««<« 
I :...med  o„t  of  the  L^:^ CX:!,^^^"'^  ZTT' 

w  the  second  series,  an  obvions  tendency  to  a  flttte„e;i  n,  **' 

I  ".^'  front,  accompanied  by  a  weakened  tongue  """'  "'"""• 

l.;in,en  shonid  ^ireth^^^^r  dtli^ Ztf  X^t  ''"'  "" 

|l.o  -Species  General"    ave  all  W  r?  ^^°''  "^*  *^^*^"*^««^^  ^'^^'^ 

\  the  early  stages  have  iu  sol  in  .   ^'  '' '  ^",^  '"'^  *^«  ^^^■^•■^"^e^ 
[intt  was  really^h^idecl!  ''  ''"^'^  *"^  ^"««^^«"  ^«  to 

SYNOI'SIS  OF   GROUPS. 

8p<.t8orbIotcheBourhetran8ver  o  ;i  '"  *  f '^^'"8 /°  ^^^eak  up  into 
,  .  costa  only ;  ,si  n.arks  not  j;!-;!  "  '^'  """'^  ''•■'*  "^*-  '"-'^-l  «"  the 
iiinarie,s  rather  abniptlv  widonin.r  on  in,.„,.  .     ""•'"■  '1\' ^ronp  americana. 

Psi  marks  present  or  wmH-n,r  ^...f  i  '  "" ''^^S'" ----t^roup  ^jers^osa. 

-riOO.  xN.  JVl.  vol.  XXI A 


;1 


■  ''1 
■11 


34 


I'ROCEKDISaS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  HIJSKUM. 


vol.  Xlt. 


ni|OUP8  ACCOIiDINQ  TO  ORNITAT.  HTRUCTUKR. 

Liiternl  olaspfir  n  ainKle,  Ioiik,  curved  hook,  arlHing  abnifitly  tYoiii  tlio  hnrpcH. 

(hoiip  amrriratia. 
Lateral  rliiHpor  scoop  Hlinp<Ml,  witli  a  proJoctioK  Iodr  nppi«r  iiiiglc;  with  or  without 

a  llnKor-iilie  procoHs  from  upper  inivrgin (Jroup  lobeliai:  \S ■ 

Lateriil  damper  flat,  with  a  loug  proJectinKaiigle  and  ii  tingcr-liiie  proceMs  froui  upper 

niiirgin (irouppiroHtrfa. 

Latornl  claspor  beak  like,  with  or  without  a  Huporior  proooss;  ariniu;;  aitpiirately 

from  harpen Group  luhtliar.  * 'i  • 

Lateral  claHpor  liook  or  hoak  like;  arining  from  an  oblique  tliickening  at  the  niiilillo 

of  tlio  harpos (Jroup  hamameliH. 

Lateral  clnspor  a  Hlendor  claw,  hook  or  procesH  nliove,  and  a  nhort,  8tout,  inCorior 

proccHB,  soniuwhut  like  a  nhort  tiiujnb  an<l  a  long  curved  forciiiigor. 

Group  aiiricoma.' 

fIROUPS  ACCOHDINfJ  TO   I,ARV-AI.  BTRUCTURK. 

Warts  small,  few  hiiired;  uecondary  hair  predominant Oronj)  mnericanc, 

WartH  Hiuall,  Hucondary  hair  subordinate,  always  proseut  at  least  slightly. 

(irotip  hheliae. 

Warts  small  or  single  haired ;  no  secondary  bairs '. \  f?'""!' i"'««««'V. 

"  '  •'  I  (Jroup  hamamehn. 

Warts  large,  functional;  no  secondary  hairs Group  aitricomuA 


illi 


1       } 


Group  AMERICANA. 

1.  All  the  maculation  distinct;  ordinary  spots  well  defined;  niedipn  lines  geminate,  I 

traasvorso  anterior  scalloped,  transverse  posterior  donticuliito;  second- 
aries yellowish  in  both  sexes rnhriroma.  I 

Maculation  more  or  less  incomplete;  median  lines  never  both  geminate,  trans- 
verse anterior  line  not  scalloped,  and  transverse  posterior  line  not  sul 
strongly  denticulate;  secondaries  various 2. 

2.  No  longitudinal  basal  dash,  line,  or  streak 3. 

A  longitudinal  black  basal  line,  not  divided  at  tip  and  not  Joineil  to  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line,  which  is  absent  or  marked  on  costa  only 1. 

Ba«al  dash  very  short,  not  reaching  to  the  transverse  anterior  line,  which  isp 
often  indicated  on  the  submediiin  interspace  by  an  ungulated  mark..  7  I 

IJasal  dash  or  streak  extending  to  the  transverse  anterior  line,  or  to  the  angulatedl 
mark  indicatiug  it k| 

3.  Secondaries  smoky  in  both  sexes;  mc^diau  linos  and  ordinary  spots  fairly  well 

marked;  transverse  posterior  lino  geminate;  si/e  very  hirgki.. amvricanaA 

Secondaries  yellowish  white  iu  male,  smoky  yellow  in  female;  primaries  witbl 

an  ochreous  tinge,  best  marked  in  male;  dagger  mark  o])posite  anall 

angle  sharply  defined  and  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line. 

ha8tiiUfera.\ 

Secondaries  grayish  white  in  male,  smoky  gray  in  female;  primaries  bluish  asli-l 

gray;  dagger  mark  opposite  anal  angle  is  but  vaguely  indicated  auill 

does  not  cross  the  transverse  posterior  line hes/ieridai 

Secondaries  white  in  male,  smoky  gray  in  female;  primaries  ash-gray;  dagger! 
mark  opposite  anal  angle  well  marked  and  usually  crosses  transvtMsel 
posterior  line dactyliiiai 

4.  Primaries  dark  blue-gray,  densely  black  powdered ,"),| 

Primaries  paler  ashy  gray,  black  powdering  more  sparse (!.| 

5.  Ordinary  spots  and  median  lines  usually  wanting;  veins  slightly  darker,  givin^l 

a  somewhat  strigate  appeaiuiiee;  traiisvcrso  posterior  iiiio  somotinu's 
well  defined  as  a  narrow  pale  band felinoi 


(Jround  cob 


VUI.  XXI. 


uup  ailricomu. 


""'  '"°         A7>/^r//  AMERICAN  NOCTVWAB^SMtTn  AND  DiAB.  86 

line  \Mt||  iletinetl  uimI  «v«n.. 
.;,  nHrk..r,  th«  l.l,u,U  pow.l..rinKH  «ve„ly  diHt;n;u;«,i;v;u,H  min.awhttV -inok^tiv: 
UiK  an  ..««(.,  ..ppearauce;  trau.ver-^  posterior  line  continuous.  wTth- 

out  hlotcby  marking 

More  whitlMb   the  bhu,k  p.,wd.,ri„K,  ^r.i^y'u:^^^:^^:,;^--^^;^^ 

..  Klvo  a  HtriKutouppcuranco;  tranHver«e  poHte.ior  line  broken,  with 
blotchy  black  nmrkinRB ■.  "nu 

7.  Chalky  white,  black  pow.l.rinKH  very  «"«;  V,r;iiV.;;y',V;;t«"w;VlVuarke;i;  tnu!';! 
vcrH..  „„,„r.or  I.no  nuuk.-.l  on  ooHta,  internal  nmrKin.  and  in  ..nbm..diaa 
u.te.Hpaco;  tranHVerHo  posterior  line  interrupted  au.l  blotchy;  da«J 
Tgi  !'"'.''.'."""'  ""'^  "'"'"""  tran.ver«e  poHtcrior  line  opposite  atal 

White,  with  a  •^int'-'-nyVii.Ke;    markings  ■as'bel>>re;"but'"le«.'^ 

powd.nn«8  nuich  leMN  evident  i  «"miiieNi,, 

(JrayiHh  whiic.  more  evenly  black  P«w.lcr^d;"o;b;a.larabaen;;d»««;;nS'nrt  ' 
d.Htu.ct  and  doe«  not  ..«»«    trannverne   poHteri<.r  Uno  opposite    anal 

8    TrauHverHo  anterior  line  Vn"con,pIeVc;  'inVt'  UHuully'p'reHenVin  part ^"'^"  o* 

I  raiiMverMo  a  ntcrior  line  c(.mpbte,  K.-niinate  j^' 

!..  Whit..,  with  a  crean.y  tin«o,  prin.aries  rather  8paVHeiy\Vowde;;d;';;rbi'cuYaV  din! 

^"""  '"'Lunl""'""' """'  "''"  ""  ''"'"'*'  --ky/anKulatedniedian  IbS'^e 

.0. 1-rinn.rie.  cbuk  ■bh;isi;"«;.;:.;..;;«,;r;e  an;e;[o; 

oT2''X-"'." .    '"*  ""'"*"  ^^■"•"'^-•-•"^-1-  .i.e  small::; 

iota. 

Group   LOBELIAE. 

1.  No  black  basal  dash,  line  or  streak  and  no  black  dagger  nmrks  of  any  kind        2 
A  black  basa  dash,  streak,  or  line  present  in  all  casef;  one  or  n.ore  C    ,Vark; 

usually  present ***     '"bikb 

2.  (ironnd  color  creamy  white;  costoVmarks  a,;d'iran8;er8;po8te;ior  li',;ebbu'k.^' 
Gro„n,l  color  luteaus,  the  maculatiou  but  little  .larker  and  none  of  it  bllck.'""'' 

:i.  The  onlinary  spots  are  more  or  less  obviously  tied  or  connected  by  a  blatk "ite 

The  ordinary  spots  not  connected  by  a  black  iiuoV.r  dash.' " '  ^' 

Scaly  vestiture  of  primaries  smooth,  <le(unibout  4 

Scaiy  vesti^ture  of  primaries  elevated,  rough,  «[ viug  VhV,  s'n^face  'a  Vnore  oi" 
less  velvety  appearance....  »  ii.om,  oi 

15. 

>ot8  obscured 

10  touches  or  crosses  the  trr 

the  cell  of  primaries 

ries  creamy  white  with  yell 
smoky;  sizelarsre.  „        i 

Dorsum  of  thorax  concolorons.  °  """"'"• 

Sixe  modemte  primaries  ashen  gray,  no  median  shade  line;  all  the  dashes 
distinct  and  fbo  m.irVin.r-  w^n  .\^f.^„.A  '  "a«"es 

Size  small,  primaries  with  a  more  or  less'obv'ious'm'edian "shade" line."'""""'" 


"5  •11 
b.4  -P 


36  rBOCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vouxxi. 

Ashen  gray,  with  a  slight  reddish  tinge;  opaqno;  the  dash  opposite  anal 

angle  usnally  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  lino pnupei-cula. 

Glistening  or  shining  white,  with  mossy  olivaceons  or  bluish  shadings; 
anal  dagger  usnally  not  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line. 

vinnttla. 
Smoky  or  blackish,  the  maculation   white;    median  lines  very  strongly 
dentate fragiliH.i 

6.  Primaries  creamy  white,  a  little  shining,  powdered  with  fine  brown  atoms; 

secondaries  smoky  yellow laetifim. 

Primaries  ash  or  bluish  gray. 

Dorsum  of  thorax  concolorous;  transverse  markings  normal 7. 

Dorsum  of  thorax  discolorons,  yellow ;  maculation  strigate 8. 

7.  Secondaries  smoky  yellowish  in  both  sexes. 

Largest  of  the  series;  expands  1.75  to  2  inches;  all  the  black  marks  and 
dashes  promintjnt  and  con! -".sting,  the  basal  dash  usually  crossing  the 

transverse  anterior  line loheliac. 

Expands  not  to  exceed  1.75  inches. 

Deep  ash-gray,  with  a  smoky  tinge;  secondaries  smoky  yellow  in  both 

sexes fnrcifera. 

I'aler  ash-gray,  a  little  mottled  in  appearance;  secondaries  white,  with 

a  faint  smoky  shading hasta. 

Uluish  ash-gray;  maculation  tending  to  become  strigate;  secondaries 

pun!  white , man iioba. 

8.  Primaries  gray,  with  a  faint  ocherous  suffusion;  all  the  ordinary  spots  and  lines 

traceable ;  secondaries  with  a  faint  smoky  tinge fhoracica. 

Primaries  blue-gray,  without  suffusions;  the  ordinary  spots  and  lines  scarcely  or 
not  at  all  traceable;  secondaries  pure  white slrigiilata, 

9.  Primaries  dark  ash-gray,  with  a  smoky  suffusion;  secondaries  with  a  yellowish 

tinge,  which  is  best  marked  in  the  male lUhospUa. 

10.  Internal  margin  of  primaries  darkened  by  a  black  shading  from  base  below  the 

dash  to  the  transverse  posterior  line 14. 

Primaries  uniformly  gray ;  not  darker  along  inner  margin 11. 

11.  The  dagger  opposite  anal  angle  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line 12. 

The  dagger  opposite  anal  angle  does  not  cross  the  transverse  posterior  line..  13. 

12.  Very  dark,  even,   blue-gray,  the  maculation  obscure,  except  for  the  dashes 

and  transverse  posterior  line;  transverse  anterior  line  scarcely  trace- 
able  tritona. 

Ash-gray,  powdery,  all  the  markings  evident. 

Darker  and  larger;  space  beyond  transverse  posterior  line  smoky,  dagger 
mark  opposite  anal  angle  very  heavy ;  secondaries  soiled  whitish  iu'both 
sexes rerellata. 

Smaller  and  paler,  a  little  marbled  in  appearance;  dagger  nnirk  opposite 
anal  angle  more  slender;  secondaries  white,  only  a  little  soiled  in  both 
sexes i/risea." 

Very  even,  ash-gray,  without  contrasts  and  with  all  the  markings  slender 
and  neatly  written;  secondaries  white  in  the  male,  smoky  in  the 
fenuile radcUffdyt 

13.  A  (luadrate  black  patch  on  primaries  between  the  ordinary  spots qnadrala. 

No  marking  between  the  ordinary  spots. 

An  orange  shading  at  base  below  the  black  dash;  secondaries  white  in  the 
male,  soiled  with  gray  in  female f alexia. 

No  orange  shadings  at  base;  secondaries  white  in  both  sexes,  a  little  soiled 
ontwardl v  in  female pavulhla. 

14.  Bluish  gray;  the  dark  shading  along  inner  margin  is  diffuse,  not  dcUued,  and 

does  not  extend  upward  on  the  transverse  anterior  line manBueta. 


VOU  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


Nonrn  American  noctvidae-smith  and  d 


15, 


_^_____ ^^«-  37 

Hluish  white,  the  dark  shading  along  inner  margin  is" black.  sh^rplj^d^fineT 
line  '^'':^^^'"^  «"  -  t»  ^-»  a  tooth  on  the  transverse  a.^t.S 

A  dnrkiongitmiii^d^haiiV ;;;;;;;« th;;ughthenuddie'of^;;;i„;a;^^^ 

I'n.naneH  without  su.h  a  dusky  central  shade  Pimianes 16. 

'"■  """"";:;S:,'"''  ^  ■'*"'  ""'"^•^^^  ^-^^^  i"teo;,s';u-;h;-;en;-;;ot  n.;.tth;d';; 

Larger,  ashen  gray,  a  tra^s;^e;s;a.  w;Ha;"h;ng;t,;dinard;u¥si»;de':i:?n^^ 
I.nn.anes  a  marbled  or  mottled  appearance  ^      1 

1^   Very  dark,  powdery  ash-gray;  none  of  t\^lashes"we7l■m;;ked^■  alV  hflZ 
SmI     :.':l"!'.^^"^^'    secondaries    smoky   yellowrlS;': "Z 

Palor  ash-gray;  at  least  the  basaVda'sh'weU  marked'"  " ^rumom. 

The  da.shes  neatly  defined ;  that  opposite  anal  angle  not  diffuse,     spininera 
The  dashes  d.ttnse;  that  opposite  anal  angle  thick  and  not  sharpliMlZlt 

pr„nt. 
Group  PERSUASA. 

maimoiata. 

Group  HAMAMELIS. 

Dagger  mark  opposite  anal  angle  usually  distinct,  alwavs  traceable 

.Secondaries  of  male  white;   ground  color  of  prin.aries  oven   dark  blue  .rav 

Secondaries  smoky  in  both  sexes.  alharufa. 

Yellowish  gray  the  reniform  yellow  shaded ;  basal  dash  distinct,  black  con 
ect.ngw,  h  an  inward  angulation  of  the  transverse  anterior  line  thich 

iTer     .       .  """"''  ""'"■"^  ^'"^  ''  "«*  '^^-k  marked;  si.e 

uiuibrmiiy  ash-;;r;tj;;  th;"g;;.;;n;;e'i:rai;;;e;;e'an;e;h;;i;n;"o;;;^;"oSue" 

aml^the  dagger  mark  opposite  ana.  angle  tcn.ling  to  dilaTplar  SiT; 
No  dagger  mark  opposite  "^nai  'anglerai'mo^t  adim^i  Vll^dlng ''"""'"• 


presence 


that  suggests  its 

Kxpauds  more  than  1.25  inches;  groundcolor  varies  from  ashen  gray  to  blackish 
srr^y;th..  markings  either  distinct  .ud  contrasting^  bai;!;;":;';; 

Smaller  an<l  of  a  much  moip  pvV.ik"  /i V-i ,' " " ",' hamamdis. 

rarely  reiTbl.  "•-       ?•'     ''''''  ^^''"""'^  '"''^'''-^  '^«"'«   ""»  «xceed  and 
i.nei,v  le.iclies  l.J.T  inches  111  expanse 

bize  as  beibrc,  but  ground  color  of  a  pale,  whitish  gray;::;::;;::;;;;:,,^;^!:: 


-h 


1*! 

c    «t  I 


38 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATION JL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


Group  AURICOMA.  |    «"cea,  th 

torily  for 

1.  All  th»i  ordinary  inaculation  present,  butnotcontrasting;  no  longitudinal  streaks,     H    structure 

dashes,  or  dagger  marks;  primaries  elongato,  snbeqnal 2.     I        SiiDprf^ 

All  the  ordinary  niaculation  present,  more  or  less  mottled  and  contrasting,  ti-nd-     I  , 

iiig  to  siittnsion;  primaries  short  and  trigonate 3,     I    ''"'^t^   P^ 

Thoordinary  maculationmore  or  less  obscured,  tending  to  become  more  distinctly     I    (iUl'Ved,  a 

strigate;  wings  long,  trigonate,  tending  to  or  becoming  lanceolate.  ..4.     I    or  teudill 

2.  Dull  gray,  with  dense  black  powderings  obscuring  the  niaculation;  secondaries    ■    maiks  stl 

grayish  white unta.    ■    ,^,j,,i  j^,j„j 

Brighter  gray,  primaries  with  sparser  powderings  and  all  th(>  maculation  clear;    I    '    ',    '  ,*, 
both  wings  with  a  yellowish  suft'usion,  most  marked  in   secondaries.    I    '^"    ' 

luMcoma.    ■    ^''^le  is  1 

3.  Even,  pale,  powdery  gray,  without  a  black  basal  dash  or  streak,  and  with  no    I    powdery  i 

contrasting  niaculation sperata.    H    wjnj)'  foril 

Marbled  black  and  white;  the  maculation  contrasting noctivaga.    H        my,    ,    •, 

Primary  gray,  more  or  less  mottled;  basal  black  streak  present.  I    f       i 

Dark  bluish  gray,  the  maculation  not  prominent;  secondaries  soiled  white   I    |^^*^"^6ncy 

in  the  male,  smoky  gray  in  female. .* emacidata.    H   illg  to  the 

Paler  gray,  with  a  slight  yellowish  tinge  on  both  wings,  the  markings  well   H        Separat 
relieved  and  the  primaries,  therefore,  with  a  mottled  appearance.  H   tillct  and 

Somewhat  broader  winged  and  the  primaries  less  pointed  at  tip;  trans-  H   'ihlefirm 

verse  anterior  line  in  female  always  well  marki^d imprenta. '^M   ! 

Narrower  winged  and  the  jirimaries  more  pointed  at  tip;  transverse  H   ^" ''''*^  '"^^ 
anterior  line  in  female  obscured  by  a  dusky  shading  which  extends  H   blackish, 
from  base  to  the  anal  angle dislans.  H   OF  may  ha 

4.  The  primaries  .so  strigate  as  to  appear  blackish  and  the  transverse  maculation  H  and  the  V 

obscured 5_  ^M   ,. 

The  primaries  ash-gray,  not  prominently  strigate;  transverse  niaculation  dis-  H         .     ^V^  ^ 

tinet;  an  obvious  dagger  mark  opposite  the  anal  angle 6.  H  Series;  hei 

Tlu!  ])rimaries  almost  Avhite,  with  black  powderings,  in  form  lanceolate  and  H       J^l*6  bal{ 

without  a  dagger  mark  oppo.site  the  anal  angle 7.  H  iug  aS  thei 

5.  All  the  niaculation  obscured,  and  only  the  reniform  sometimes  traceable. ?K/cne8ii.  H       Ijj  ^jig   j 
Transverse  posterior  line  fairly  evident  and  lunulate;  secondaries  of  female  H  „,,  ,  ^,- 

fi'i'^'^y perdita.  jH    _     . . 

Transverse  posterior  line  evident  and  very  strongly  dentate;  secondaries  white  H  ^"^''"^'v  verj 
in  both  sexes edolatu.  ^M  '^^^S  detillil 

6.  A  distinct  black  basal  streak;   transverse  anterior  lino  obscure  or  wanting;  ^B  The  trailSV 

transverse  posterior  line  strongly  denticulate cxtricata.  ^M  marked  iu 

No  black  liasal  streak;  transverse  anterior  line  usually  evident;  transverse  po^-  ^B  i,,  ,    ^  ,4.   • 
terior  line  not  strongly  denticulate jrjiUniformix.^M  / 

7.  Grayish  white,  powdery;  transverse  posterior  line  lunulate;  a  series  of  black  H      *^     sexes 

terminal  dots ohliiiito.-^m  ^01"  the  exfe 

Bluish  white,  less  powdery  in  appearance;  transverse  posterior  line  an  oven,  H       HaHtuUft 
continuous  brown  shading;  no  black  terminal  dots Umctolar'ut.^m  with  a  veil 

wise  decide 
Group  AMERICANA.  H  same  yelloi 

The  species  united  in  this  group  find  their  most  important  common  H  '"'^^  smoky 
feature  in  the  sexual  characters  of  the  male.  In  all  cases  the  harpesH  "''I'ked  an 
or  sidepieces  are  broad,  rounded  at  the  tip,  and  the  ciasper  consists  ot'H  '^''  ^''®  ^^^^^ 
a  single  long  hook,  which  arises  directly  out  of  the  membranous  side-H  '""^'^  C'VOf>,s,\ 
piece  much  nearer  to  the  base  than  to  the  middle.  There  is  hardly  anvH  ^^''■W»'i<J( 
material  variation  in  this  plan  of  structure,  and,  while  there  are  dilier  ■■  '""'^'^''en  fc 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMEBIC. IN  NOCTUWAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


39 

dices  they  are  merely  specific;  indeed,  tbey  can  not  bVu^^d^^ti^- 
tonly  for  even  specific  separation,  because  in  (closely  allied  species  the 
stnictures  are  so  similar  as  to  be  within  the  ranj-e  of  possible  variation. 

buperhcially  the  group  is  distinguished  by  the  well-developed,  trijr- 
onate  primaries,  in  which  the  outer  margin  is  long,  oblique,  eveulv 
cui'ved  and  the  apex  is  pointed.  Yet  the  wings  are  never  lanceolate 
or  tending  to  that  form.  None  of  the  species  have  the  ».vi  or  dagger 
marks  strongly  developed,  though  in  most  instances  that  opposite  the 
anal  angle  is  at  least  indicated.  The  markings  are  of  one  general  type 
and,  while  all  present,  tend  to  become  broken  and  blotchy  While 
there  is  no  distinctly  roughened  vestiture,  yet  there  is  throughout  a 
powdery  appearance  which  is  quite  characteristic,  and  which,  with  the 
wing  form,  makes  it  fairly  easy  to  determine  the  group. 

There  is  no  uniformity  in  the  structure  of  the  male  foreleg,  yet  the 
tendency  is  to  locate  the  tibial  epiphysis  below  the  middle  aud  extend- 
ing to  the  tip. 

Separated  from  all  the  other  species  by  having  all  the  maculation  dis- 
tinct juid  the  median  lines  geminate  is  ruhricoma.  It  is  rather  a  vari- 
able form  and  narrower  winged  than- the  others.  There  is  little  contrast 
111  the  maculation  and  in  most  cases  the  lines  can  hardly  be  called  even 
blackish.  The  species  varies  in  size  and  may  be  either  clear  ashen  gray 
or  may  have  a  yellowish  smoky  suftusion  throughout.  When  the  gray 
and  the  yellowish  forms  are  separated  they  seem  quite  distinct;  but 
there  are  specimens  that  may  be  with  equal  propriety  placed  in  either 
series;  hence  it  is  not  safe  to  give  even  a  varietal  name. 

The  balance  of  the  species  may  be  separated  into  two  series  accord- 
ing as  there  is  or  is  not  a  basal  black  streak,  line,  or  dash. 

In  the  first  series  no  such  line,  streak,  or  dash  exists,*  and  of  this 
mnmcana  is  characteristic.  This,  the  largest  species  of  the  genus  is 
really  very  much  like  rnbricoma  save  that  the  markings  become  miich 
less  definite,  and  the  transverse  anterior  line  tends  to  obsolescence. 
Ihe  transverse  posterior  line,  while  it  is  dentate,  is  not  nearly  so  well 
marked  m  this  particular  as  is  rubricoma,  and  finally,  besides  being  the 
argest  in  the  genus,  the  secondaries  are  uniformly  smoky  brown  in 
both  sexes,  though  much  darker  in  the  female.  It  is  also  remarkable 
for  the  extremely  well-developed  anterior  femora  in  both  sexes. 

Hmtulifera  is  a  smaller  species,  of  a  somewhat  paler  gray,  soiled 
with  a  yellowish  suffusion,  most  obvious  in  the  male,  which  is  other- 
wise decidedly  paler  in  color  than  the  female.  In  the  secondaries  tlie 
same  yellowish  shade  obtains,  but  those  of  the  female  are  much  darker 
and  smoky.  The  difference  between  the  sexes  in  this  species  is  quite 
niiuked  and  much  more  obvious  than  elsewhere  in  the  group.  In 
all  the  specimens  I  have  seen  there  is  a  distinct  though  slender  dagger 
mark  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  the  anal  angle. 

nrsprmla  is  a  new  species,  from  the  Pacific  coast,  which  h«s  bp«n 
mistaken  for  dactylina,  and  perhaps  for  americana  in  some  cases.    It  is 


4( 


>  i 


i  • 


■    -ft 


40 


PltOCIiEniNGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


11 


Almost  as  larjfe  a.s  amerieana,  but  is  of  a  bluish  ash  gray,  very  densely 
powdered  with  blacic  scales.  The  secondaries  in  the  male  are  white 
with  a  faint,  smoky  gray  tinge,  and  in  the  female  they  are  gray  pow' 
dered.  As  a  whole,  the  female  is  darker  and  larger  than  the  male 
but  the  diHerence  is  not  nearly  so  striking  as  in  hastnlifera.  The 
PHI  mark,  opposite  the  anal  angle  of  primaries,  is  barely  indicated  by 
a  diffuse  shading  which  does  not  cross  the  transverse  posterior  line 

Dactylina  is  of  a  bright  bluish  gray,  powdered  with  black  atoms,  but 
not  so  densely  as  in  the  preceding,  than  which  it  seems,  therefore, 
decidedly  paler.    The  secondaries  are  white  in  the  male  and  grayish 
powdery  in  the  female.    The  psi  mark,  opposite  the  anal  angle  of  the 
primaries,  is  distinct  and  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line. 

Of  the  species  in  this  series  it  may  be  said,  in  recai.itulatiou,  that 
amrrteana  is  distinguished  by  its  large  size  and  very  dusky  seconda 
nes.  Hesperula  is  almost  as  large,  but  is  blue  gray,  the  secondaries  are 
nearly  white  in  the  male,  and  there  is  no  psi  mark  crossing  the  trans- 
verse posterior  line  opposite  the  anal  angle  of  primaries.  HmtuUfera 
and  dactylinn  both  have  the  psi  mark,  but  the  former  has  a  distinct 
yellowish  shade  in  bouh  sexes,  and  smoky  secondaries  m  the  female 
while  the  latter  is  bluish  gray  and  powdery,  and  the  secondanes  of  the 
female  are  gray.  As  between  the  males  of  these  latter  species  there 
can  rarely  be  doubt.  Asbetweeu  the  females  some  forms  of  dactyUna 
can  be  separated  from  ha.stuli/cra  only  by  the  secondaries. 

In  the  series  in  which  there  is  a  black  basal  dash,  streak,  or  line 
thiee  subdivisions  are  recognizable:  First,  where  the  basal  streak  is 
linear,  terminating  acutely  and  extending  to  the  point  which  would  be 
occupied  by  the  transverse  anterior  line  were  it  present;  second,  where 
the  basal  streak  is  very  short  and  does  not  reach  the  point  where  the 
transverse  anterior  line  is  or  might  be  marked-in  this  case  it  is  quite 
usual  to  have  the  transverse  anterior  line  marked  in  the  submedian 
interspace  by  an  angular  mark;  third,  where  the  basal  dash  or  streak 
reaches  to  and  joins  the  transverse  anterior  line  or  the  angular  mark 
which  m  variably  indicates  it.    This  basis  for  subdivision  seems  at  first 
sight  to  be  rather  slight,  but  a  large  series  of  specimens  of  each  species 
proves  that  it  holds  good.    There  are  cases,  of  course,  where  a  speci- 
men may  at  first  seem  doubtful,  but  such  are  usually  due  to  an  imper- 
fection 111  the  example  or  to  an  aberration  which  is  rarely  the  same  on 
both  wings. 

In  the  first  subdivision,  where  the  streak  is  slender  and  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line  is  wanting,  there  is  a  tendency  to  a  strigate  type  of 
maculation.  In  felina,  which  is  a  very  dark  blue-gray,  all  the  trans- 
verse maculation  is  lost,  save  that  the  transverse  posterior  line  may  bo 
present  as  a  paler  shade.  The  other  lines  are  rarely  even  indicated  on 
the  costa  and  the  ordinary  spots  are  practically  wanting.  There  is  no 
dagger  mark  oi)posite  the  cell. 

Frioida  is  a  .-lose  ally  of  and  ha«  ]>ccn  mistaken  fov  J ciina     It  is 
soi-.ewhat  broader  winged,  however,  has  the  transverse  posterior  line 


VOL.  XXI. 


N<A  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICANNOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTJIi. 


(IS,  therefore, 


— -- 41 

|.f  least  indicated  and  nsnally  distinct,  the^^^^^^ii^;;;;^;;^;^;;;^-^^ 
la.  at  leas  traceable,  and  tJ.ere  is  an  evident  dagger  oppos  e  the  ce  " 
..o,ssn.g  he  transverse  posterior  line.  The  bas^l  das^ may  extend 
ilTough  the  submedian  interspace  so  as  to  connect  with  the irmirk 
I  oppo.site  the  anal  angle.  ^         ^^^ 

racifim  is  a  smaller,  narrower  winged  species,  and  is  mo  -e  ashen 
f,nay  and  more  powdery.    The  transverse  posterior  line  TsdisSct 

li.   costa.    The  reniform  is  vaguely  lunate;  the  transverse  posterior 

aiiole.     Ihe  transverse  anterior  line  and  median  sh«dp  o^^    f-     i, 
In  the  second  subdivision,  where  the  streak  is  very  short  crrtnfn  •« 

atter  ponit  a  psi  is  distinctly  formed  ' 

h»  is  the  ouly  specie,  „,  .i..„„;,„  cZL    rCp    "^d''Cth 
^jn.e™a,  and  „„r  larvae  are  absolutely  like  tUoJZpld    °1 

.  .iis  iieTtL^fe  *r'  "'^t  sr r '""n  ™-  --'^  "'- 

|.c...«li,„  species,  but  ITytlmg  s  ,  iTse     Tl?     J""    '  "'  '"  """ 

I nu Mb  that  which  I  have  here  called  popuU.  ^ 

lu'e t;^'  'VZ"  "t""  '"'^  "•'  '''^  '""'^^^""^^  *«  ™-e  coarse  and 
I  'ic  aei.se.     The  markings  are  much  as  in  l,nu.cvN>>n   k,,.  ., ., 


. 

^i^M 

-^ 

H-.fll^H 

^  ^^^^^H 

y*' 

t    M^^H 

J    H^H 

5     AwJ^^^^I 

III  ^1 

I'-'di^  i^^H^^I 

r^^  :"  IK^^I 

-  I^^^H 

42 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XX  r, 


Transversdta  is  much  like  the  precediujr,  but  there  is  an  evident 
median  shade  line  crossinj;  the  wing  through  the  outer  part  of  the 
median  space  and  reaching  the  inner  margin  at  about  its  middle.    It  is) 
the  only  species  so  marked  in  the  group  and  hence  easily  recognizable. 

Tola  is  the  smallest  of  this  group  and  unique  in  its  uniform  dark 
blue-gray  primaries,  and  the  very  distinct,  even,  geminate  transverse 
anterior  line.    IJoth  parts  of  the  transverse  anterior  line  are  equallyl 
well  marked  and  they  are  well  separated.    There  are  no  dagger  marks) 
and  the  ordinary  spots  are  well  outlined. 

The  only  European  member  of  this  group,  other  than  lcporina,'k\\o\ix\ 
to  me  is  aceriH  and  its  variety  candeliscqita.  The  sexual  structure  is  iiil 
full  accord  with  that  of  the  American  species,  and  in  superficial  appearl 
ance  it  is  nearest  to  some  of  our  large  specimens  of  rnbruioma,  stau(l| 
iug  somewhat  intermediate  between  that  species  and  amcricana. 


ACRONYCTA  RUBRICOMA  Guenee. 

(Plates  I,  fig.  4,  adult;  VI,  figs.  14,  1.5,  larva;  XV,  fig.  10,  head;  XVII,  fig.  9,  leg;j 
XVIir,  fig.  12,  tarsal  claw;  XIX,  fig.  10,  iiiale  genitalia.) 

Acronycta  riibricoma  Gueni;;k,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  49. 
Act-onycla  acericola  Walkeh,  Cat.  Brit.  Miis.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  57. 

The  ground  color  is  somewhat  luteous  gray ;  the  yellow  tinging  some] 
times  faintly  visible,  sometimes  very  prominent.    The  head  and  thorinl 
are  powdery,  the  collar  a  little  darker  at  the  tip,  and  the  edges  of  tliel 
patagiae  somewhat  dusky  tipped,  though  this  is  a  variable  character] 
The  primaries  are  well  powdered  with  black  atoms,  which  give  them 
roughened  appearance.     Sometimes  the  powdering  is  quite  evenly  disi 
tributed.    Occasionally  it  is  more  distinctly  massed  at  the  base  audi 
a  little  beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line,  and  quite  frecpiently  therel 
is  a  more  or  less  complete  median  shade  which  crosses  obliquely  froral 
the  costa  over  the  reniform  and  is  rarely  traceable  below  that  point,! 
The  median  lines  are  geminate,  and  in  well  marked  si)ecimens  thej) 
are  all  distinct.    The  basal  line  is  also  geminate,  sometimes  marked  oif 
tlie  costa  only,  sometimes  distinct  to  a  narrow,  blackish,  lougitudiiiaj 
line  which  extends  from  the  base  to  the  transverse  anterior  line.    T 
transverse  anterior  line  is  blackish,  as  a  who'e  outwardly  oblitiue,  ai 
irregularly  dentate  and  lunulate.      The  transverse  posterior  line  \\ 
very  strongly  lunulated,  so  that  it  is  outwardly  dentate  on  the  veins 
The  outer  part  of  the  line  is  usually  more  distinct  than  the  inner,  aii( 
the  included  shade  is  paler  than  the  ground  color;  sometimes  almosj 
white.    There  is  no  di.stinct  subterminal  line;  but  sometimes  this  i( 
indicated  by  a  slight  difference  in  shade  in  what  may  be  called  tlij 
terminal  space.   There  is  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  dots  beyond  whicU 
the  fringes  are  cut  with  brown.    The  orbicular  is  round,  of  moderatl 
size,  ringed  with  blackish,  sometimes  with  a  discal  dot  and  occasioil 
ally  entirely  suffused.    The  reniform  is  large,  kidney  shaped,  ratlioj 
well  defined  in  most  specimens,  but  often  obscured  by  a  dusky  shadef 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


43 

iThere  is  a  vagne  dnsky  shade  in  the  snbmedian  interspace  froiiTthi 
Itii.iisverse  posterior  line  outward,  which  represents  the  ordinary  psi 
lirii.rk.    Occasionally  this  is  fairly  distinct  and  sometimes  we  have  a 
jiiiore  or  less  obvious  streak,  which  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line 
iThc  secondaries  are  whitish,  with  a  faint  yellowish  tinge  in  the  male 
jd;u  ker  and  a  little  smoky  in  the  female.    There  is  usually  a  vague  dis- 
Ical  dot  and  a  discal  outer  line,  which  are  rather  a  reflection  of  what  is 
Ifonud  on  the  under  side  than  a  distinct  marking  of  the  upper  surface 
llicneath  the  color  varies  from  white  to  yellowish  smoky,  in  all  cases 
Iwith  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  dot  and  an  outer  shade  line  on  both 
Iwiiigs. 

Expanse,  1.25  to  1.80  inches  (31  to  45  mm.). 

Jlahitat.-Loug  Island,  New  York,  March  6;  Washington,  District  of 
Columbia,  April  28,  July  10,  Septembers;  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  March  3- 
pxas,  Aprd  11  and  21,  August  12.    Occurs  throughout  the  Middle  and 
jSonthern  States  and  has  been  found  in  Canada. 

This  insect  varies  remarkably  in  size,  and  this  seems  to  be,  to  some 
3xtent  at  least,  due  to  locality,  for  all  my  large  examples  are  from 
Texas,  wlnle  the  smallest  are  from  Long  Island.    Some  of  the  latter 
seem  to  be  bred  specimens,  and  it  may  be  that  this  is  in  some  measure 
^esi)onsible  for  the  small  size.    At  first  sight  it  almost  seems  as  if  the 
species  could  be  divided  into  two  by  the  ground  color,  because  the 
larger  specimens  are  more  generally  shaded  with  yellow;  but  nothing 
In  the  structure  or  markings  will  authorize  the  separation  even  into 
kancties.    Tiie  original  description  of  the  species  tits  best  to  the  well- 
jiiarked  specimens  from  the  southern  range  of  the  species.    The  head 
Is  usually  distinct:  the  front  is  prominent  and  a  little  conical.    The 
L'lasper  of  the  male  genitalia  is  moderate  in  size,  quite  stout,  and  not 
Wevy  strongly  curved.    The  harpes  are  oblong,  with  an  oblique  tip 
pile  anterior  legs  of  the  male  are  usually  short  and  stout,  the  femur  is 
Nry  strongly  developed,  and  the  tibia  is  short  and  thick,  with  the 
epiphysis  attached  at  the  middle  and  extending  to  the  tip.    The  tarsi 
are  also  stout  and  rather  short.    The  species  diflers  from  all  the  others 
In  the  group  by  its  complete  maculation,  and  in  this  respect  it  some- 
Miat  resembles  the  European  aecris,  with  which  it  was  compared  by 
Its  describer.    The  longitudinal  black  line  at  the  base  is  never  very 
luoiuinetit  and  sometimes  scarcely  traceable.    Indeed,  in  some  of  the 
))aler  specimens  it  is  altogether  absent.    Eight  males  and   fifteen 
leniales  have  been  compared  for  this  description    from  divers  col- 
lections. 

LARVA. 

FitKNcn  Sixth  Rcpt.  111.  State  Normal  Univ,  1880,  p.  45.-Martkn,  Tenth  Kept. 
111.  btate  Entomologist,  1881,  p.  132. 

^  Sf(u,e  /F.— Width  of  head,  2  to  2.2  mm.;  shining  dark  brown  over 

je  lobes,  clypeus  and  mouth  pale  whitish.    Body  greenish  white,  with 

graces  of  a  powdery  blackish  dorsal  shade  most  distinct  on  joints  5  to 

and  12.    Hairs  whitish,  not  very  abundant,  the  primary  form  small, 


!  \l 


44 


PRoanjnixr.s  op  the  national  mvskum. 


VOL.  XXI. 


Il::i 


coiicolorous  warts,  secondary  not  numerous,  similar  to  the  primary. 
Doisally  on  joints  r>,  0,  7,  8,  9,  and  12  a  thin  pencil  of  black  hairs, 

maye  VJ.— Head  sbiniug  black,  the  clypens  brownish,  its  suture 
pale;  width,  4.5  mm.     liody  greenish  white,  with  a  dorsal  blackish  | 
band,  pulverulent,  obscurely  geminate,  often  entirely  ab.sent,  except  for  | 
a  double  black  mark  on  the  cervical  shield  and  a  black  spot  on  joints 
5  to  13,  or  5  to  9  and  12.    Thoracic  feet  pale  brown,  leg  plates  pale. 
Warts  very  small,  the  hair  mostly  secondary,  short  dorsally,  and  spread 
ing  each  way  from  the  center  of  the  segment;  quite  long  laterally. 
Dorsal  pencils  tapering,  moderately  long,  broadest  at  base  and  arising 
from  a  single  large  area  representing  tubercles  I.    The  pencils  may  be] 
present  on  joints  5,  0,  7,  8,  9, 10,  and  12,  with  a  trace  of  one  on  11  or 
else  only  on  joints  6  to  9  and  12.    All  the  hairs,  both  pencils  and  gen- 
eral clothing,  white  or  pale  yellow^  the  pencils  becoming  black  witli 
yellow  tips,  apparently  at  maturity,  as  in  the  case  of  all  the  hairs  of| 
leporina.     Length,  40  mm. 

PwjM.— Abdominal  segments  finely  punctured  for  more  than  the  I 
anterior  half,  regularly  tapering;  wing  cases  grooved  and  wrinkled. 
Cremaster  very  short,  consisting  only  of  an  ellipti<;al  wrinkled  area 
from  which  the  hooks  arise,  a  bunch  of  four  or  live  in  the  upper  row, 
the  central  one  strongest,  and  a  line  of  four  or  five  on  each  side  below, 
the  most  anterior  one  strongest,  none  much  recurved.  Color  rather  | 
light  red  brown,  shining.     Length,  16  mm. 

Food  plant. — Ilackberry. 


Ispccmiens;  t 


pome  specime 
kviiig.    Eenea 


ACRONYCTA  AMERICANA  Harris. 
(Plates  I,  fig.  2,  iiilnlt;  VI,  fig.  17,  lurva;  XIV,  fig.  11,  ovipositor  female,  3;  6,  thorax] 
from  aide;  XVII,  fig.  10,  leg;  XVIII,  tig.  4,  palpus;  XIX,  fig.  11,  male  genitalia.) 

Acroiii/cta  amerkvna  IIaruis,  Kept.  Iiis.  Mass.,  1841,  p.  317;  Ins.  In.j.  Vegetation, 
2d  od.,  1852,  p.  317;  Ins.  Iiij.  Vegetation,  Flint  ed.,  1862,  p.  436,  figs.  216-218;  I 
p]nt.  Corr.,  1869,  p.  311,  fig.  111.— Lintner,  Twenty-sixth  Kept.  N.  Y.  State 
Cab.  N.  IT.,  1872,  pp.  135-157. 

Apatela  americanaiJiRoiE,  Bull.  Bufl'.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1874,  II,  p.  154.— Coquiij.ett, 
Papilio,  1881,I,p.6.— Packaud,  Ins.  Inj.  Forest  Trees,  1881,  p.  111.— GuoteJ 
Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  111.— Packard,  Forest  Insects,  1890,  p.  397. 

Menacrouijcta  americana  Grote,  Mittb.,  a.  d.  Koeni.  Mus.,  llildesb..  No  3   1896 
p.  10. 

Phalavna  acms  Smith  and  Abrot,  Ins.  Ga.,  1797,  II,  p.  184,  pi.  xciii.— Guenke, 
Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  iH  =  acericola. 

Acronycia  acericola  Gueni^k,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  48.— Walker,  Cat, 
Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  18.56,  IX,  p.  57. 

Acronycia  hasUiUfera,  larva,  Guenke,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  18.52,  I,  p.  47. 

Apatela  ohacura  Henry  Edwards,  Ent.  Amer.,  1886,  II,  p.  169,  pr.  var. 

The  ground  color  is  a  somewhat  pale,  powdery  ashen  gray,  with  al 
more  or  less  obvious  yellowish  tinge,  which  is  often  entirely  absent. 
Head  and  thorax  are  slightly  black  powdered,  but  even   in  colorj 
throughout.    The  ]>rimaries  have  the  ordinary  marks  fairly  well  trace . 
able,  but  not  contrasting  and  hardly  distinct.    The  basal  line  is  markedj 


[I.— GUENKE, 


I 


I  NO  IMP.         NORTH  AMICIUCAy  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  45 

Ion  the  eosta  only.    The  transverse  anterior  linTls^gemlmite^^^^uHii^ 
iii...m.  lete,  sometimes  hardly  traceable.    As  a  whole  it  is  outwardly 
OhlKju  ,  strongly  dentated,  and  ontcnrved  between  the  veins     The 
transverse  posterior  line  is  more  distinct,  lunulated  outwardly,  denticn 
luted  on  the  veins.    The  inner  line  is  less  marked  than  the  outer  and 
the.  .ntervening  spsice  is  usually  paler,  sometin.es  quite  prominentl'v  so 
rhcrc  IS  no  subterminal  line  and  no  distinct  trace  of  any  such  in 'any 
Ispccnnen  before  me.    In  some  .specimens  there  is  a  fairly  distinct  shade 
line  runnnig  obliquely  from  the  costa  to  and  darkening  the  middle  of 
the  renitorm,  but  this  does  not  extend  below,  that  point  in  any  speci- 
n.on  that  1  have  seen.    The  ordinary  spots  are  fairly  distinct  in  most 
spcnmens;  the  orbicular  is  round  or  oval,  ringed  with  blackish,  and 
Iwitiiout  a  central  spot  in  the  specimens  before  me.    The  reniform  is 
|huf,'e,  kidney  shaped,  usually  somewhat  incomplete,  and  occasionally 
,nu.|y  defined.     It  has  always  a  central,  dusky  lunule,  and  is  some- 
It.mos  entirely  dark.    There  is  a  distinct  black  dash  in  the  subraedian 
i.tcrspace  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line,  and  there  is  another 
iinich  less  obvious,  which  crosses  the  line  opposite  the  <;ell.    In  some 
•ases  a  dusky  shading  accompanies  the  first  mentioned  of  these  spots 
I  here  IS  a  series  of  dark  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are 
ut  with  smoky.    The  secondaries  are  yellowish  gray  or  white  in  the 
iiiilc,  more  or  less  smoky  and  sometimes  quite  dark  in  the  female     In 
M.ine  specimens  the  outer  line  of  the  underside  is  visible  through  the 
«ing.    Leneath,  whitish  or  smoky,  both  wings  with  a  discal  spot  and 
more  or  less  obvious  outer  line. 
Expanse,  from  2  to  2|  inches  (50  to  62  mm.). 

llalntat -Vrom  Canada  to  Texas,  west  to  Salt  Lake  City.    It  is 
aken  in  New  York  from  May  to  July  almost  continuously,  and  again 
InSeptember;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  May  10;  New  Hamn- 
nie  July  12;  Mount  Airy,  Pennsylvania,  May  1  and  18;  Texas,  in 
vpj  11;  Canada,  June  and  July. 
This  is  the  largest  species  of  the  group,  and  can  hardly  be  mistaken 
m  any  other.    While  on  close  examination  it  has  almost  identically 
fbe  markings  of  the  preceding,  yet  they  are  much  less  evident  and 
n..ie  broken     Ihe  dagger  marks  crossing  the  transverse  posterior 
ne  are  usually  quite  evident,  though  that  opposite  the  cell  is  not  infre- 
nently  wanting.    Besides  being  larger,  the  wings  of  this  species  are 
l.so  more  evenly  trigonate  than  are  those  of  the  precedin-.    There  is 
lome  variation  in  ground  color,  but  not  much  in  other  directions.    Mr 
ul  wards  has  described  an  unusually  dark  form  from  Salt  Lake  City  as 
.sr.,-.;  but  similar  forms  occur  inthe  East,  and  the  difference,  such 
m2  ti,^';    f  Tu^^  ^^  *  ''P^'^*^  "^'"«-    S'inth  and  Abbot  con- 

0    ted  n^,  '  />''  .^  T.^  '^'  *^'  ^"""P^^"  '''''^'^  ^^^t'  ^«  Guenee 

>o  I  ted  out,  the  similarity  is  not  very  strongly  marked. 

J  lie  clasper  of  the  male  is  of  mndfiraf«  i«no.fh  ^^h  "i■^,^^  — 1- 1 

iiimwj      rvi      1  ••■•&t'x  tihu  oIOUl,  quiiu  evenly 

H  itl  nn    .     r'  ^'^  ^^""^^^''^"y  broad  at  the  center  and  taper  to  a 
'uaded  point.    The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  is  very  strongly  devel- 


•■r 


■    1 


*m- 


46 


I'UOCKKDINCS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MV8KVM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


#^!! 


oped,  the  femur  being  actually  and  proportionately  tlio  largest  found 
in  the  genus.     It  is  excavated  inferioriy  iionr  tlie  tip  to  receive  tlie  short, 
stout  tibia.    The  epii)hy8is  is  attached  at  a  little  below  the  middle  and  I 
extends  to  the.  tip.     Eighteen  males  and  twenty  three  females  were| 
compared.  , 

LARVA. 

Smith  and  AiiliOT,  Lop.  Ins.  On.,  1707,  H,  pi.  xcin  (o<w{«).— IIahuih,  Ihh.  Iiij. 
VeK.,  18n,ii,  :U7.— (Utkni::i.;,  Spec.  Uen.,  I,  lHr.2,  p.  47  (/(«»<H/l/e)a).— IIaiiuis, 
Kilt.  (Jorresi),  IHfi!».  p.  311.— LiNTNER,  Ent.  Ctnit.,  1S72,  p.  \m  (haalnUfi;ni).~\ 
CotiriM.irn,  I'lipilio,  ISSl,  I,  p.  (!.— Dimmock.  l'»ycho,  1885,  IV,  p.27l.  — I'ack- 
Aiii),  Kifth  Kopt.  II.  S.  Ent.  t'oniui.,  1890,  p. 31)7.— Co.mhtock,  Manual  Stud,] 
Ins.,  l8<»o,  p.  307,  Hj?.  373. 

E<ig.—^o\it\\"y,  on  the  upper  side  of  the  leaf.    Cireuhir,  flat,  witbl 
almost  eighty   ibs  on  the  margin,  the  ribs  finely  wavy  at  the  summit. 
(Irooves  between  even,  smooth,  becoming  conthient  reticulate  toward | 
apex  and  diminishing  rapidly  in  number.     Micropyle  coarsely  iiregii- 
hirly  reticulate     ( J recn,  the  upper  part  dotted  with  brown  so  thickly] 
as  to  leave  onlj  rings  of  little  green  spots.     Diameter,  1.2  mm  ;  height, 
0.2o  mm. 

Htmjc  T. — Head  round,  bilobed,  mouth  produced,  tii)s  of  jaws  brown;! 
width,  0.4  mm.  JJody  colpiless,  green  from  food;  setae  single  from  h)\vl 
concolorouH  tubercles,  1  on  Joints  5  to  14  black,  the  rest  whitisli,  long! 
and  slender,  spinulated.  Head  setae  above,  and  one  of  cervical  shieldl 
also  black.  Tubercles  whitish.  Skin  shining,  faintly  annulate,  without! 
marks. 

Staxje  TI. — Head  bilobed,  white;  width,  O.G  mm.  Body  green  froiiil 
food,  no  marks;  hairs  fine,  long,  and  white,  a  few  black  ones  dorsallyl 
rising  in  bunches  from  small  concoloious  warts,  normal.  Joint  12  al 
little  enlarged. 

8t((<)f  in. — Head  white,  a  large  black  patch  over  the  lower  half  ofl 
each  lobe,  irregular  above,  and  a  small  patch  over  clypeus;  width,  1  niiii.j 
Body  green  from  food ;  no  marks.  Hair  long,  abundant,  Irom  low,  sma 
warts,  white,  a  few  black  ones  dorsally,  especially  in  straggling  tufts  oiij 
joints  5,  7,  and  12.  Possibly  a  few  secondary  hairs,  but  not  distinctf 
Later  traces  of  a  geminate  dorsal  and  single  subdorsal  black  line. 

Stage  IV. — Head  bilobed,  all  black,  labrum  and  setae  white;  widtliJ 
1.G5  mm.  Body  greenish  white,  a  double  dorsal  and  a  lateral  blaciil 
line  more  distinct  than  before.  '  Hair  long,  dense,  all  white,  except  ill 
long  black  pencil  from  wart  1  on  joint  5,  7,  and  12  arising  from  a  blackl 
patch,  those  on  joints  5  and  7  double  and  divaricate.  Warts  wliitej 
obscure  subventrally.  Much  short  secondary  hiar  is  present.  Thoracicl 
feet,  abdominal  leg  plates,  and  jfiint  14  black.  Later  the  hair  is  yell 
lowish,  except  at  the  tips. 

Stage  Y. — Head  black;  width  2.5  mm.  Body  greenish  wiiite,  witlil 
double  dorsal,  single  lateral,  and  stigmatal  black  lines,  and  bhickj 
shading  subventrally  and  veutrally.  Legs  black  and  the  whole  ol 
joint  13  dorsally,  as  well  as  dorsal  spots  ou  joints  5,  7,  and  12.    Hairl 


N<|.  1140. 


NORTH  AMEinCAS  NOCTVlDAE-SMITn  ANT)  DTAR. 


47 

I y.IlowiHli  wliite.     Pencils  long,  blacjk,  double  on  joints  5  and  7-  Hinirle 
I  (III  joint  IL*  118  in  the  inatiin^  larva.  ' 

St,„jv  r/.— Head  shiniug  black,  the  natures  pale;  width,  4  0  mm 
l!().ly  greenish  white,  above  marked  with  a  geminate  dorsal,  a  single 
lateral,  and  stigmatal  black  lines,  all  broken.    Hubventral  region  feet 
iiiid  venter,  with  joint  13  above,  also  sooty  black,  the  legs  and  plates 
shining.    Hair  abundant,  about  2  nmi.  long,  not  concealing  the  body 
iiiid  all  of  about  uniform  length,  except  a  few  long  ones  on  joint  3 
Uvl.itc.    lUack  pencils  dorsally  on  joints  5,  7,  aud  12,  as  in  the  next 
Istiijic    Length,  45  mm. 

SUujv  r//._FIead  largo,  rounded,  scarcely  bilobed,  shining  black- 
tlic  clypeus  is  high,  reaching  three-fourths  the  height  of  the  head-  the 
.sutures  on  the  sides  and  the  one  dividing  the  two  lateral  clypeal'seg- 
ni.Mits  pale  yellowish;  labrum  pale;  width,  0  mn..  Body  pale  greenish 
wliite,  a  series  of  geminate  dorsal  dots  in  the  incisures  of  joints  5  to 
11',  a  broad  stripe  on  joints  12  to  13,  narrowing  in  front,  a  broken 
obscure  stigmatal  line  and  traces  of  a  lateral  line  posteriorly,  as  well  as 
the  thoracic  feet,  abdominal  leg  plates,  and  a  broad  ventral  shade  on 
Joints  11  to  13,  black.  Warts  small  aud  obscured  by  tlu  abundant 
secondary  hairs,  which  are  longer  laterally  than  on  the  dorsum,  diffusely 

Lsproading,  pointing  in  all  directions,  rather  short,  not  concealing  the 
body,  white  or  pale  yellow.  On  joints  5,  7,  and  12  wart  1  bears  a  long, 
slender  pencil,  forming  a  well-separated  paired  tuft  on  joints  5  and  7 

Iconsolidated  into  a  single  pencil  on  joint  12.    Spiracles  white,  with 

|bhi(!k  border.    Length,  70  mm. 

CVxoon.— Double,  a  thin  outer  web  of  silk  and  larval  hairs  aud  a 

|thi(;k  inner  cocoon  of  silk  and  chips  of  wood  thickly  interwoven.    The 

Icnioon  is  formed  on  a  piece  of  wood,  and  consists  half  of  the  cocoon 
iiud  half  of  the  cavity  in  the  wood  formed  by  the  removal  of  the  chips 

|to  construct  the  cocoon.    Length,  40  mm. ;  width,  20  mm. 

/'„yu/.— Shining  brown.    Wing  cases  longitudinally  grooved  and 

shagreened.    Abdomen  regularly  tapering,  the  segments  smooth  and 

l)un(tnred  on  the  anterior  portion.    Cremaster  rounded,  blunt,  coarsely 

IwruikJed,  the  upper  hooks  a  dense  cluster  of  three  or  four,  the  lower 

|ii  line  of  three  to  live  on  each  side. 

Food  plants.— mQ,xi\G,  elm,  chestnut,  linden,  poplar,  birch,  alder,  oak, 
|liiekory,  ash,  sycamore. 

ACRONYCTA  HASTULIFERA  Smith  and  Abbot. 
(I'lutos  II,  fig.  12,  fem.alo;  III,  fifj.  5,  malo  ii.liilt;  VI,  figs.  12, 13,  larva;  XVII,  fig.  11, 

leg;  XIX,  fig.  14,  male  gcuitiilia.) 
I'halacna  hastiilifem  Smith  and  AitiioT,  Ins.  Ga.,  1797,  II,  p   183  pi   xcii 
Arronycta  Mi/era  Gukx,;;k,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  47.'-Walkek,  Cat. 

Jint.  Mas.,  Het.,  18.56,  IX,  p.  .56. 
■  icivnycia  acericola  larva  t  Gueni':k,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  48. 

v!!^"'"I  ^f^^  ?  ^'^1?  ^^'*^'  '^''""'^*^  whitish  in  the  male,  with  a  bluish 

"•^e  Jiead  and  thorax  slightly  powdery,  withoutdis- 

primaries  have  the  ordinary  maculation  mostly 


jtinge 
Itinct 


48 


PltOCEKDlNoa  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM, 


VOI.XXt 

trncenble,  but  more  or  less  broken.    ThelmsirTirMtTiH  cut ir.^"w^an(in.r 
or  i«  ti.arke<l  on  the  ^ostu  only.    The  tnuiHveivse  anterior  line  \h  neve.' 
entirely  complete,  and  rarely  even  traeeahle  ixwum  the  entire  wirm 
It  if*  jreminate,  the  inner  line  more  diHtinet,  and  often  this  is  nrominenr" 
onlyjust  below  the  e..||,  where  it  forms  a  little  inward  tooth  from  which 
the  line  ih  fi-ebly  traceable  to  a  eostal  spot  on  the  one  hand  and  to  a 
more  vague  blotch  on  the  inner  margin  near  its  mid.lle.    The  trans 
verse  posterior  line  Is  single,  consisting  of  a  scries  of  connected  lunnles 
which  are  black  and  (|nite  obvions,  somewhat  emphasized  bv  a  i)re<e(l 
mg  paler  shade.    The  line  is  only  a  little  toothed  on  theVeins  and 
as  a  whole  makes  an  even  oiitcnrvo,  followed  by  „ne  as  eveidy  inward 
in  the  submedian  interspace.    There  is  a  va-ne  median  sha.le,  often 
traceable  across  the  entire  wing,  bnt  obvious  only  as  an  obliqae  mark 
from  the  costa  to  the  reniform.    Beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line  is 
a  dusky  shade,  which  gradually  merges  into  the  ground  color  before  tho 
outer  margin.    There  is  a  series  of  tirminal  black  spots,  beyond  which 
the  Iringes  are  marked  but  not  entirely  cut  by  dusky.    There  is  a  dis- 
tiuct  daah  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  the  anal  angle 
but  there  is  no  line  opposite  the  cell.    The  orbicular  varies  in  sizj 
and  shape;  sometimes  small,  sometimes  large,  and  it  may  be  entirely 
rounded  or  distinctly  oval.     It  is  always  ringed  with  blackish  and  is 
not  dark  centered.    The  reniform  is  kidney  shaped,  large,  more  or  less 
incomplete,  and  with  a  central  dusky  lunate  mark.    The  secondaries 
are  whitish,  with  a  faint  yellowish  tinge  in  the  male,  smoky  brown  in 
the  female.     In  both  sexes  there  is  a  series  of  terminal  lunules  which 
are  sometimes  almost  connected.    Beneath,  the  wings  are  whitish  or 
smoky,  powdery,  and  in  the  male  with  a  more  or  less  obvious  discul 
spot;  in  the  female  also  with  a  more  or  less  obvions  outer  line 
Expanse,  1.70  to  2  inches  (42  to  50  mm.). 

HaMtat.-}iew  York;  Philadelphia,  I'ennsylvania;  New  Jersey- 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  May  29;  Massachusetts:  Califoi' 
ma;  Canada  in  June;  Georgia;  Central  States. 

I  have  7  males  and  (5  females  representing  this  species,  which  hiis 
been  generally  confused  in  collections,  sometimes  with  (lactyUna  and 
sometimes  with  amcricana.  It  resembles  both  and  ditt'ers  from  botli 
and  its  most  obvious  character  is  the  difference  between  the  sexes' 
The  males  are  smaller  and  much  paler  throughout,  not  only  in  the  sec- 
ondaries, but  in  the  primaries  as  well.  The  secondaries  are  much  more 
robust,  and  the  fore  wings  are  distinctly  broader  and  less  trigonate 
than  they  are  in  the  male.  This  species  was  properly  figured  in  both 
stages  by  Smith  and  Abbot,  and  can  be  readily  separated  from  amcri- 
cana, on  the  one  hand,  by  its  paler  ground  color,  smaller  size,  and  siii'-Ie 


transverse  posterior  line,  and  from  davtylina  bv  the  yellowish  shadi 
which  is  totally  absent  in  the  latter  species. 


iii 


«) 


49 


"  "*"       JL^^"  •^•"'^'^5^'V  NOCTVIhAR-SMlTn  AMD  tiTAn. 

LARVA. 

XK./<-  ///.-IhMul  l,il„lu„l,  black,  a  fow  hairs;  width,  l.S  „„„.     no,iv 
hl;..k,  wartH  oonc,»l.„ouH;  hair  thick,  but  «hort,  cbHcurinK  tlu,  b.Klv 
lawny  brown  tippnl  with  bhick  and  whit.,  scant  Hubvcntraliy     On 
mints  5  7,  and  12  a  black  dcrsal  tuft,  higher  than  the  rest  ..r  the  hair 
aii.l  in  the  subdorsal  space  on  joints  5  to  13  the  hair  is  wliite 

si„i,,  /r.-IIead  bilobcd,  smooth,  black,  and  shining;  a  few  white 
l:.ns;  abnuu  wh.fsh;  width,  l' 4  „„„.  Hody  black,  s^,iracles  wh  e! 
warts  III  IV  and  V  urauge.  Hairs  as  bctorc,  the  brown  strongly 
lipped  with  white.  """^'j' 

■^''Z  ';f f*'^;"'"^^*^)-"^^*!  "«  I'efore,  slightly  creased;  wi.lth, 
...  inn  Body  bh.ck  all  as  before,  but  the  dorsal  tufts  are  scarcei; 
l..nf(er  than  tlie  other  hairs,  while  all  are  tipped  with  white 

Stage  V/.-IIead  black  and  shining,  labruin  pale;  a  V-shaped  pale 
.noparallel  to  the  sutures  of  clypeus;  width,  UJ  to  4.8  n.nl.    \Zl 
black,  spiracles  white.    Hair  dense,  (,f  even  length,  not  long,  the  sec<.nd 
a.y  hairs  not  ab.uHlant.     Warts  distinct  though  sn.alt  few-haired, 
1  I  and  IV  reddish.     Hair  dark  brown  except  in  a  broad  dorsal  ban 

0  .lo.nts^S  to  13  which  is  black,  containing  the  concolorous  tuftlo 
joints  ..,,  and  12,  which  exceed  the  other  hairs  very  slightly  Both 
tic  black  and  the  brown  hairs  are  sparsely  barbuled  and  end  in  ve  y 
slightly  enlarged  colorless  tips,  which  give  the  larva  a  hoary  appear 
a.Hc  ,,u.te  characteristic.  The  hairs  form  bands  across  the  segments 
as  m  davtyhna,  but  the  bare  incisions  are  much  narrower  than  in  that 
jspcc.es.  A  few  long,  r  hairs  from  the  extremities;  dorsal  hair  not 
keeled.    Length,  about  35  mm. 

rm>o;,.-ElbpticaI,  rather  narrow,  tough,  and  firm;  composeil  of  silk 
30  ,„m'"'  '''  '"termixed;  no  wood,  chips,  or  earth.    Length, 

nu'Z'~^^TT}  ''•'"  ^'^''""*'  ^^^  ^b^lo™"''-^!  segments  punctured  on 

1  e  anterior  half;  (ju.te  regularly  tapering.    Cremaster  a  low,  wide  ele- 
vation,  with  a  cluster  of  four  hooks  on  either  side  above  and  a  shigle 

no  e  one  below  and  farther  in  front.    Color,  dark  blackish  brow'^ 
hligiitly  shining.    Length,  18  mm.  ' 

I'^ood  plants.— AXdiiv. 

ACRONYCTA  HESPERIDA,  new  species. 
(Plates  X,  Hg.  9,  female  adult;  XIX,  fig.  15,  male  genitalia.) 

,..wderh;lr''T,^'"'!l-  '''  ^'•'^;  ^''''  '''''  ^"^  ^^^^^k  '^°^^  «0''^««^'  ^'"Oky 

t  w    f;  1  ^''^"^f  "'^7  '"'-^rkings  are  distinct  in  the  male,  but  some 

ut  washed  and  mdeh.nte  ,n  the  female.    The  basal  line  is  marked  on 

tlio  costa  only,  and  then  but  feeblv.    The  t,ran«,.n...  o....,-._  fi  ^" 

oatwar^ly^ob^ique,^gjm^ina^outcu         between  the  veinsrand readies 


}- 


60 


rROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


If 


VOL.  XXI. 

the  inner  margin  at  about  its  middle.    In  the  male^h7  wTlines^ 
equally  distinct,  and  are  smoky,  the  intervening  spaces  of  the  ground 
color.    In  the  female  the  line  is  broken,  and  sometimes  disappears 
almost  entirely,  the  outer  portion  being  often  repiesented  by  a  dot  in 
the  middle  of  the  wing,  and  a  dusky  blotch  on  the  costa  and  inner  mar- 
gin.   The  transverse  posterior  line  is  black  or  blackish,  lunnlate,  well 
removed  outwardly,  strongly  incurved  below  the  cell,  and  thus  bisinu- 
ate.    The  black  lunules  are  preceded  by  a  whitish  shade  and  also  oppo- 
site the  cell  and  in  the  submedian  interspace,  by  a  smoky  mark     The 
line  is  followed  by  a  dusky  shade,  which  merges  insensibly  into  the 
ground  color.    Subtermiual  line  wanting.    There  is  a  series  of  black 
or  smoky  terminal  spots  in  the  interspaces,  which  may  or  may  not  cross 
the  fringes.    In  the  female  all  this  marking  is  obscured;  but  on  the 
other  hand  there  is  a  vague,  smoky,  almost  upright  median  shade 
which  darkens  the  reniform  and  forms  a  smoky  blotch  on  the  inuc' 
margin.    The  ordinary  spots  are  distinctly  outlined  in  black  in  the 
male,  but  vague  and  partly  obscured  in  the  female.    The  orbicular  is 
round  and  usually  small,  sometimes  minute;    the  reniform  is  lar«o 
kidney  shaped,  and  has  a  smoky  central  mark  which,  in  the  female' 
obscures  the  entire  spot.    There  is  no  basal  streak,  and  only  a  poor 
indication  m  some  specimens  of  a  dagger    mark  opposite  the  anal 
angle,  an  outward  tooth  of  the  transverse  posterior  line,  which  is  here 
usually  best  marked,  giving  the  appearance  of  a  small    dash     The 
secondaries  are  whitish,  a  little  soiled  in  the  male,  strongly  gray  pow 
dered  m  the  female,  in  which  there  is  a  more  or  less  obvious,  diffuse 
outer  smoky  band.    The  veins  are  smoky,  and  there  is  a  traceable 
discal  lunule.    On  the  under  side  the  wings  are  whitish  in  the  male 
smoky  m  the  female;  in  both  sexes  with  a  discal  lunule  and  in  the 
female  also  with  a  diffuse  outer  shade  line.    The  head  and  thorax  are 
without  marks  of  any  kind,  save  there  is  a  blackish  mark  between  the 
eyes  and  the  base  of  the  wings  in  some  specimens.    The  sides  of  the 
palpi  are  also  black. 
Expanse,  2  to  2.25  inches  (50  to  56  mm.). 

^afejtof.-*' California;"  Seattle,  Washington;  Tacoma,  Washington 
August  7;  Nanaimo,  Vancouver.  ' 

Two  males  and  six  females  are  before  me,  nearly  all  of  them  in  fair 
condition.  The  Californian  specimens  are  probably  from  the  Sierri 
Nevada  Mountains,  but  I  have  no  definite  data  concerning  them 
Types  are  in  the  IT.  S.  National  Museum,  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  and  in  the  collections  of  Messrs.  Graef,  Dyar  and 
Doll  This  species  is  intermediate  in  most  respects  between  hastuUfera 
on  the  one  hand  and  dactylina  on  the  other.  It  has  most  the  appear- 
ance of  dactylina  and  has  been  mistaken  for  that  species.  It  u  probably 
not  at  all  rare,  and  replaces  dactylina  in  the  Northwest.  Where  a 
series  of  specimens  can  be  (compared  there  is  no  difficulty  at  all  in 
recognizing  the  distinctness  of  this  8])eGies.     rt  is  larger  in  the  lirt 


wo  lines  are 


""  '"":    ^I^'^^  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  51 

place;  it  is  also  much  darker  bluish  gray.  lu  the  inaleIhe8e;^r;;iaHe^ 
n. 0  son.ewhat  soiled  instead  of  nearly  white,  as  in  the  Eastern  species 
il.e markings  m  the  female  are  much  more  obscure,  and  the  daoJr 
..Kuk  opposite  the  anal  a„gle  is  entirely  absent,  although  its  posUion 
.s  u.d.cated  by  the  angle  in  the  line  which  has  been  referred  to  i  he 
(loscnption.  The  sexual  characters  of  the  male  do  not  differ  from  the 
oidiiiary  form  in  this  series.  i^uia  me 

ACRONYCTA   DACTYLINA    Grote. 
(Plates  I,  flg.  3,  adult;  VII,  fig..  18,  19,  larva;  XVII,  fig.  n,  log;  XIX,  li...  13  ,naie 

geuitalia;  XVI,  fig.  8,  venation.)  .•  H  male, 

i-syche,  1875,  I,  p.  42.— GuoTK,  Papilio,  1883,  III  p   m 
Menacronycta  dacUjlina  Guotk,  Mitth.  a.  .1.  Koem.Mus.,  Hildesb.  No.  3, 1896.  p.  10. 

The  ground  color  is  bluish  gray  with  rather  dense,  flue  powderings 
Head  and  thorax  without  distinct  markings,  but  i^owdered  like  the 
res    ot  the  upper  surface.    Primaries  with  the  oriinary  maculat  on 
broken,  basal  line  rarely  marked  even  on  thecosta;  transLseant^dor 
hue  vanably  evident,  geminate  near  base,  evenly  oblique  outwardly 
and  moderately  ou  curved  between  the  veins.    In  many  cases  I  mS 
below  the  cell  IS  all  that  is  present.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is 
single,  black,  lunulate,  more  or  less  dentate  on  the  veins,  preceded  bv 
a  paler  and  followed  by  a  darker  shading.    There  is  a  series  of  ter 
jnmal  .y  ts  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  from  which  a  line  somet^es  c^^s 
Inough  to  the  outer  edge.    The  median  shade  is  marked  only  by  a 
more  or  less  indeflnite,  dusky,  oblique  shade  on  the  costa,  which  extends 
to  and  darkens  the  center  of  the  reniform.    The  orbiWuar  is  sm^ 
ound,  or  oval  dark  ringed,  and  centered  with  the  ground  color.    The 
reniform  is  kidney  shaped  and  more  or  less  dusky  centered.    The  sec 
ondaries  are  white  in  the  male,  gray,  with  a  slight  smoky  tinge,  in  the 
female     Beneath  white  or  gray,  more  or  less  powdery,  all  whig    w  th 

i^ixpanse,  l.<()  to  2  inches  (42  to  50  mm.). 

7f«&;/a<.-Massachusett8,  in  June;    New  York,  in  June  and  Julv 

ninesota    Tuly20;  New  Jersey,  June  23;  New  Hampshire' J lly^! 

^Ma-ne;  District  of  Columbia,  in  May;  Canada,  in  July;  Col^o        ' 

J  ns  species  is  quite  widely  distributed  north  of  the  Potomac'and 

west  0  the  liocky  Mountains,  but  does  not  extend  very  far  norThof  t^^e 

dim:  T"  ;"?'i"  f"""  *''  specimens  before  me  indica^te.    The  sp Lies 

■rter   by  Its  bl.ush-gray  color  from  all  those  that  have  preceded  it  and 

he  white  secondaries  are  also  distinctive.    Occasionally  a  dark  emle 

un>.  case  the  locality  comes  to  our  aid  to  some  extent,  because  the 

llllsr IKtti'ril   (tana   i\n<-  "^f-i,,,! J  !  J?  -!  '    ""'"- 

.  •"'■"■■' ""■^"SteirU  jioillnis  far  a»  </«c(»(»w.    The  trout  iu  tlii>i 
»l«c,™  aud  m  „a,,„UMa  i,  eveuly  couvex,  but  not  at  all  bargiug  and 


.['■ 


"a 


^^^ 


52 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


not  in  the  least  conic.    The  sexual  pieces  are  also  atron^ly  alilco  in 
both.    They  are  oblong,  the  tip  diagonal,  while  the  clasi)er  is  of  mod 
erate  length  and  only  a  litile  curved.     Twenty  males  aud  sixteen 
females  have  been  compared. 


h 


LARVA. 

DiMMOCK,  Psyche,  IV,  p.  274.-Packaud,  Fifth  Kept.  IJ.  S.  Ent.  Coram.,  1890, 
p.  498  (8p.  42,  birch  ins.);  Ibid.,  p.  626  (/(as/«i!i/e,-a).-EDWAi{D8  and  Elliot 
Bull.  Am.  Mas.  Nat.  Hist.,  1892,  IV,  p.  77. 

Stage  /.—Colorless,  whitish,  the  food  showing  green.  Hairs  from 
warts,  long,  silky  white,  mixed  with  a  few  black  ones  from  warts  I  on 
joints  3, 5,  7,  and  12.  Head  bilobed,  whitish,  eyes  black,  mouth  brown ; 
width,  0.7  mm. 

Stage  J/.— Head  shining  black  with  two  concave  white  bands  close 
to  the  clypeus  aud  connected  above  it  by  a  cross-bar;  a  white  mark 
above  ocelli,  another  behind;  clypeus  greenish  centrally,  mouth  parts 
pale;  width,  1.2  mm.  Hair  long,  curved,  soft,  white,  with  long,  distinct, 
single  black  pencils  from  tubercle  I  on  joints  5,  7,  and  12.  Warts  con- 
colorous,  body  whitish,  a  slight  irregular  black  marking  subdorsally. 

Stage  III.— R&Ad  entirely  black;  width,  1.8  mm.  Body  as  in  tlie 
mature  larva,  but  only  partly  black,  being  spotted  and  streaked  with 
yellow,  especially  substiginatally.  Primary  hairs  from  distinct  pale 
warts,  IV  behind  the  spiracle,  V  and  VI  small;  hairs  long,  barbuled. 
Secondary  hairs  shorter,  most  numerous  dorsally.  Primary  hairs  all 
white  except  the  black  pencils;  secondary  hair  yellowish,  shading  to 
fleshy  brown  on  the  ba<;k. 

Stage  J  I'.— As  before,  the  body  blacker,  very  black  in  the  incisures. 
Secondary  hair  abundant,  the  biack  pencils  long.  Primary  hairs  stiff 
and  pale,  radiating  from  the  warts.  Width  of  head,  2.4  mm.  The 
appearance  of  segmentary  bands  of  hair  is  heightened  by  the  pale  color 
of  the  center  of  the  segments  contrasting  with  the  black  incisures. 
Thoracic  feet  and  venter  black. 

Stage  r.— Like  the  mature  larva;  width  of  head,  3.G  mm.  Lateral 
hair  all  fleshy  brown  except  stigmatally  and  subventrally,  where  it  is 
yellowish.  Body  all  black  except  on  the  folds  where  the  hair  is  very 
thick  and  there  it  is  pale  yellow.  No  continuous  yellow  substigiuatal 
band.    A  narrow,  faint,  yellowish  dorsal  line  of  hairs. 

Stage  FJ.— Head  black,  the  lobes  separated  by  a  vertical  notch; 
width,  4.5  mm.  to  5  mm.,  line  above  labruili  white.  Body  black,  densely 
covered  with  secondary  hairs,  except  rather  broadly  in  the  incisures, 
forming  bands  of  short  hair,  obscuring  the  body  except  laterally  where 
it  is  much  thinner;  slightly  keeled  along  the  dorsal  line.  Hair  liglit 
yellowish  on  the  sides,  shading  into  fleshy  brown  on  the  back.  Oa 
joints  5,  7,  and  12  a  single  erect  black  i)encil,  twice  as  long  as  the  other 
hair,  yet  relatively  shorter  than  in  the  previous  stage.  A  few  long 
white  hairs  from  the  extremities.    A  faint  yellowish  irregular  substig- 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AKD  DYAR. 


53 

Hiatal  band,  excavated  for  the  spiracles  and  concolorooswith  the  lateral 
hairs;  spiracles  white. 

Cocoon.-Sing\o,  elliptical,  not  very  thick  but  tough,  composed  of 
coarse  silk  with  larval  hair  scattered  over  the  outside,  spun  among 
leaves,  etc.  •  ° 

Pupa.— Abdomen  taperiug,  the  segments  sparsely  punctured  on  the 
anterior  side;  wing  cases  creased  and  shagreened.  Oremaster  short 
and  blunt,  coarsely  shagreened  and  wrinkled,  the  upper  hooks  in  a 
dense  cluster  of  about  eight  on  each  side,  the  lower  ones  absent  or 
represented  by  one  or  two  slight  hooks. 

Food  plants.— Alder,  willow,  birch. 


' 


i   i 


ACRONYCTA  FELINA  Grote. 
(Plates  XI,  fig.  9,  female  adult;  XIX,  fig.  22,  male  genitalia.) 
Apatela  felina  Grote,  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  1880,  IV,  p.  208. 
(Jround  color  a  very  dark  blue  gray,  densely  black  powdered.    Head 
and  thorax  as  usual  immaculate.    Primaries  with  all  the  lines  absent 
or  only  vaguely  indicated.    The  veins  are  somewhat  darker  than  the 
rest  of  the  wing,  which  thus  gives  a  somewhat  strigate  appearance. 
Iherc  IS  a  distinct  black  basal  line,  which  extends  well  toward  the  middle 
of  the  wing,  and  in  some  cases  nearly  meets  another  which  reaches  the 
outer  margin  and  represents  the  dash  that  in  better-marked  species 
crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line.    In  some  specimens  the  transverse 
anterior  line  is  marked  on  the  costa,  and  occasionally  the  transverse 
posterior  line  is  indicated  by  a  pale  shade.    The  ordinary  spots  are 
wanting ;  but  in  some  instances  the  reniform  is  vaguely  indicated     The 
tiinges  are  cut  by  somewhat  indistinct  dark  lines  opposite  the  inter- 
spaces; but  there  are  no  distinct  terminal  dots;  occasionally  a  black 
dash  IS  traceable  opposite  the  cell,  about  where  the  transverse  posterior 
hne  should  cross.     Secondaries  white,  in    the  female   more   or  less 
Wacij  powdered.    Beneath  powdery  white,  with  a  more  or  less  obvious 
aiscal  dot  and  outer  shade  line. 
Expanse,  l.GO  to  1.80  inches  (40  to  45  mm.). 

iiaW^af.— Seattle,  Washington;  Sierra  Nevada,  California;  Colorado 
(hruce),  Glenwood  Springs  in  October  (Barnes). 

Twelve  specimens,  evenly  divided  as  to  sex,  are  before  me,  and  otier 
very  httle  in  the  way  of  variation.  The  species  is  quite  characteristic 
and  Its  very  dark  gray  color  with  the  almost  entire  absence  of  the  ordi- 
nary marks  will  be  sufficient  to  distinguish  it.  The  head  is  rather 
smaller  than  usual,  and  more  retracted.  The  front  is  hardly  bulging 
and  the  tongue  is  a  little  weakened.  The  anterior  legs  of  the  male  do 
not  differ  essentially  from  those  of  the  immediately  preceding  species, 
iheharpesof  the  male  are  more  elongate  than  usual,  quite  even  in 

width,  and  nhf.nsflv  ronndo'l  •>*•  +>'o  *••"      rni._    _i, .  ., 

"•     ••'!!■!••!  !>v  „.<e  111;,     xiiu  ciasper  18  rather  siiort, 

strongly  curved,  and  moderately  stout. 


■I'H 


54 


PROCFAiDlNGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol,.  XXI. 


Ii   <i 


ACRONYCTA  FRIGIDA,  new  species. 

(Plates  Xr,  ligs.  6,  10,  male  an.l  female  adults;  XX,  lig.  4,  nn.lo  genitalia.) 

AcroniietalepuscaUnal^v^ny  Edvvahiks,  Pro,..  Cal.  Ac.  Sci..  1S75,  VH   „  2^ 
Apatelafdina  \  Fukncu,  Cau.  Eut.,  188!),  XXI,  p.  Hfi.  ' 

Ground  color  dark  blue  gray,  quite  densely  powdered  with  black. 
On  the  prnnanes  the  veins  are  n,arked  with  smoky,  giving  the  wings 

l^?T^  "JI^^'^T""''    ^'"'^'"'^^  ^'""^^'^^'  ^"*  '^«  ^  r»l«  the  ordinary 
spoth,  and  the  transverse  posterior  line  are  fairly  well  marked    the 

ren.lonn  being  distinct  in  all  the  specimens  before  me.    The  basal  In! 

8  marked  by  a  black  dot  on  costa,  or  it  n.ay  be  entirely  absent     The 
tninsverse  anterior  line  may  be  absent,  or  may  be  marked  by  a  blotch 
on   he  costa  and  an  angulated  n.ark  in  the  submedian  interspace.    The 
median  shade  ,s  marked  by  a  spot  on  the  costa  and  anot  .er  1  the 
internal  margn,  though  both  of  these  may  be  absent.    The  transverse 
posterior  hue  ,s  feebly  lunulate,  rather  evenly  bisinuate,  and  precede^l 
by  a  shghtly  paler  shade.    In  one  specimen  it  is  hardly  tkceable     Th 
fringes  are  cut  by  smoky  marks  in  the  interspaces.    The  ordinary  spots 
are  obscure;  the  orbicular  oblong,  feebly  black  ringed,  the  reniform  a, 
nulehnite  black  lunule.    There  is  a,  distinct  blaclAa^al  stiS  whic 
almost  joins  the  dagger  opposite  the  anal  angle.    The  dagger  nnr 
opposite  the  cell  is  also  very  distinct.    The  secondaries  are  S  even  y 

slol  V    'O n't,;:"''  ""  ^^^!^««\P--*-y,  the  disk  of  the^>rimal£ 
smoKy.    0,1  the  primaries  is  a  discal  spot  from  which  a  spur  is  sent 
out,  reproducing  in  a  diffuse  way  the  dagger  mark  of  the  tfpper  sWe 
The   econdaries-have  a  distinct  outer  transverse  line,  and  a  discal  sli 
which,  m  one  specimen,  sends  a  dusky  lineto  the  base.    The  hetd    m 
thorax  are  without  markings  save  that  there  is  a  distinct  line  from  the 
eyes  to  the  base  of  the  wings,  and  the  sides  of  the  palpi  are  blackish 
Expanse,  1.70  inches  (43  mm.).  oieicKisu. 

i^«/n^a^.— Sierra  Nevada;  Truckee,  California 

Four  specimens,  one  male  and  three  females,  are  before  me.    Two  are 
f  om  the  collection  of  the  United  States  National  Museum,  one  fro. 
the  Eutgers  College  collection,  and  one  from  the  collectioi    o     P 
George      .  French.    The  male  is  labeled  July,  Alameda  County  Cal 

nIvV  1  Tl'e  specimen  from  the  college  collection  is  labeh^d  Sierra 

l^evada,  while  the  specimen  from  Professor  French  is  marke.l  fVm 
Truckee,  and  is  dated  May  6.    This  specimen  was  bred  rpTofeZ 
French  and  was  mistaken  by  him  for  ^na,  which  indeed    tool 
resembles  at  first  sight.    The  specimen  appears  to  have  bel  no  u  te  1 
when  fresh,  and    hough  not  crippled  looks  somewhat  undevelop  d  a 
compared  with  the  others  before  me.    The  male  is  slightly  smalle 
than  the  females  and  seems  to  be  also  a  iittle  paler  iu  cotor,  whUe  the 


NO.  1140.         mBTB  AMERtCAn  mcWtDAtl-aMlTH  AND  DTAR.  65 

markings  are  a  little  more  distinct.  As  compared  with  felina  tbe^sd^s 
|.ie  shorter  and  proportionately  broader.  The  markings  are  much 
Letter  dehned  than  in  any  specimens  ofyi^fma  that  I  have  seen  and 
witli  a  series  of  the  insects  at  hand  there  is  no  difficulty  whatever  in 
recogni/.ng  their  distinctness.  The  sexual  structures  are  very  similar 
in  the  two  species,  the  harpes  in  frigida  being  proportionately  a  little 
broader  while  the  clasper  seems  to  be  rather  longer  and  more  slender; 
but  the  ditterences  are  slight  and  would  hardly  be  considered  of  specific 
importance  were  it  not  for  the  other  characters. 

This  is  also  the  species  referred  to  by  Mr.  Henry  Edwards  as  the 
1  acihc  coast  torm,  which  he  believed  to  be  the  true  lepmcuUna  Guenee. 


LARVA, 

o  f'f"'  f*:;"^,'',"  r^'^''^''  "pp^^"  p^^"*  ^"*^  ^'^^^  of  joints  2, 4, 5,  ?,  s. 

i\  IJ,  and    3  reddish  purple;  brown  hairs  in  clusters  from  the  tubercles  ' 
he  <lorsal  ones  larger  than  the  body;  head  black,  feet  purplish." 

.S^«i/eJJ.-<' White,  the  dark  dorsal  joints  black;  tubercles  and  head 
black ;  hair  from  the  dorsal  tubercles  gray,  the  rest  whitish."  (French  ) 

.Stage  ///.-"Creamy  white,  joints  2-5, 7-10, 12,  and  anal  plate  black 
above;  a  fine,  white  dorsal  line.  Tubercles  bearing  hairs  of  various 
lengths  the  two  dorsal  ones  on  joints  5,  7,  and  12  with  small  pencils  of 

iuHi  1   T?    ,T  T^ ''  ^'^"^  ^^'''^  ^^'''  ^"  ^^^  ^^^^'  d^rk  joints.   Head 
and  feet  black."    (French.) 

Stage  /F.-«' A  dorsal  gray  stripe  with  central  white  dorsal  line:  a 
subdorsal  gray  stripe;  sides  greenish  pale  yellow.  Hairs  in  thick  clus- 
ers,  spreading,  with  black  tufts  on  joints  5,  7,  8,  and  12  and  forming  a 
long  fnnge  on  each  side  of  the  body  and  behind."  (French  ) 
Jtage  V  (interpolated).-Head  shining  brown-black  or  pale,  mottled 
with  black  spots;  width,  4  mm.  Body  greenish  white  without  marks, 
wi.rts  very  small,  primary  and  secondary  hairs  alike,  long,  fine,  radi- 
ating m  all  directions,  but  straight,  not  curved;  small  black  dorsal 
pencils  on  joints  5,  7,  and  12  shorter  than  the  other  hair. 

Stage  VI. -Head  pale,  reddish  mottled ;  width,  4.5  mm.  Body  with- 
out marks,  the  numerous  long,  soft,  fine  hairs  radiating  in  all  direc- 
tion.^ yellow,  not  obscuring  the  body.    No  black  hairs.    Thoracic  feet 

Coeoon.-^^0{ Bilk  and  wood  fiber;  thin,  firm,  and  tough."    (French.) 

/«^« -Abdominal  segments  regularly  tapering,  slightly  punctured 

"    ront;  cases  shagreened;  mahogany  brown.    Cremaster  short  and 

J  Hie,  coarsely  wrinkled  above,  upper  hooks  single,  lower  six  to  eight  on 

•<•.<  p-ule  sonic  projecting  laterally,  others  backward,  recurved. 

J^ood  plants.— Willow  and  poplar. 


h 


66 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


ACRONYCTA  PACIFICA,  new  species. 
(Plates  XI,  fig.  5,  malo  adult;  XX,  tig.  2,  nialo  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  a  powdery  ashen  gray,  in  which  all  tlic  uiaikings  are 
more  or  less  obscure.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  feebly  traceable, 
geminate,  twice  outcurved,  so  that  the  inward  angulation  in  the  sub- 
median  interspace  connects  with  the  black  basal  streak.  The  median 
shade  line  is  marked  on  the  costa  by  i  smoky  blotch.  The  transverse^ 
posterior  line  is  even,  smoky,  bisinuate;  best  marked  in  the  submedian 
interspace,  where  it  is  crossed  by  a  slender  black  dagger  mark ;  sub 
terminal  line  wanting.  The  fringes  are  cut  by  smoky  lines  opposite 
the  interspaces.  The  orbicular  is  very  small,  oval,  marked  by  black 
scales,  and  may  be  scarcely  traceable.  The  reniform  is  also  indefinite 
and  consists  of  a  shapeless  smoky  mark.  Beyond  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line  the  wing  is  somewhat  more  densely  powdered  and  seems 
darker.  The  secondaries  are  white  in  the  male  and  only  a  little  smoky 
in  the  female.  On  the  underside  the  wings  are  white,  with  discal 
marks  and  an  outer  line  on  each. 

Expanse,  1.60  to  1.75  inches  (37  to  45  mm.). 

Habitat. — California. 

Three  males  and  one  female  are  before  me.  All  of  the  specimens 
are  directly  or  indirectly  from  the  Henry  Edwards  collection.  Two  of 
them  are  from  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  numbered 
9615.  One  is  labeled  Sierra  Nevada,  while  the  solitary  female,  from 
the  collection  U.  S.  National  Museum,  is  simply  labeled  California.  In 
genital  structure  the  species  much  more  nearly  resembles  the  i)opnli 
series  than  frigida,  although  in  markings  it  approaches  most  closely 
to  some  pale  specimens  of  the  latter.  The  harpes  are  very  broad,  and 
widen  toward  the  tip,  while  the  clasper  is  very  long,  slender,  and 
pointed. 

ACRONYCTA  INSITA  Walker. 

(Plates  IV,  fig.  3,  male  adult;  X,  fig.  8,  malo  adult;  XVII,  fig.  13,  leg;  XIX,  fig.  16, 

male  genitalia.) 

Acromjcta  inaita  Walker,  Cat.  Brit.  Mus.,  llet.,  1856,  IX,  p.  61.— Grote  Paoilio 
1883,  III,  p.  111.  '       *^      ' 

Ground  color  white,  strongly  black  powdered,  giving  the  creature  a 
somewhat  bluish  ash-gray  appearance.  Head  and  thorax  without  dis- 
tinct markings.  Primaries  with  the  ordinary  lines  more  or  less  indeli- 
nite,  but  all  of  them  marked  on  the  costa.  There  is  a  distinct  black 
basal  streak,  which  usually  extends  to  the  point  at  which  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line  is  ordinarily  found;  but  sometimes  it  is  abbreviated 
and  in  one  specimen  very  slightly  marked.  The  basal  line  is  indicated 
by  a  black  dot  on  the  costa.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  indicated 
by  a  black  spot  on  the  costa,  by  a  more  or  less  indistinct  angular  mark 

below  the  rell.  miuI  soinpfiinws!  Vtxr  o  lJ<i/,irJoi.  ..,.>,.ir  „«  fi,„  ,-..„_^  .    • 

-  — , _^„i.is,,n  .,j  .„  1-,,,,  Ki.^u  iiiaitv  On  tlic  luncr  iiiargiu. 

Sometimes  the  costal  spot  only  is  present.    A  distinct  black  spot  near 


NO.  1140.        NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUILAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  57 

the  middle  of  tlie  eosta  indicates  the  median  shade.^Th^  t^sA^^ 
posterior  line  is  single.    When  well  marked  it  is  limulate,  but  it  tends 
to  become  disconnected,  and  occasionally  it  is  marked  only  by  a  differ- 
t'lice  in  shading,  the  terminal  portion  of  the  wing  being  somewhat  darker 
it  is  better  marked,  as  a  rule,  opposite  the  cell,  and  there  may  be  one 
or  two  rather  distinct  black  marks  indicating  the  position  of  a  dagger. 
Tlic  lunnle  in  the  submedian  interspace  is  always  evident,  crossed  by 
ii  diiik  mark,  and  usually  more  or  less  shaded  with  blackish.    There 
is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut 
with  black.    The  orbicular  is  wanting  in  most  specimens,  but  is  some- 
times faintly  outlined.    The  reniform  is  indefinite  and  forms  a  vague 
black  lunule.    The  secondaries  are  white,  a  little  soiled  in  the  female 
and  in  both  sexes  with  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  lunules.    Beneath 
it  is  white,  with  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  spot,  and,  in  the  female 
with  outer  shade  lines  on  both  wings.  ' 

Expanse,  1.50  to  2  inches  (38  to  50  mm.). 

//,,/,/<«<.— Ithaca,  I^ew  York,  June  5j  Chicago  and  Urbana,  Illinois- 
\  olga,  South  Dakota.  ' 

This  species  has  never  before  been  satisfactorily  identified.    Mr. 
(irote  has  several  times  named  specimens  irm^a;  but  in  almost  every 
instance  they  have  been  male  hastulifera  or  specimens  of  daehjUna. 
Ihe  species  is  very  easily  distinguished  from  either  by  the  fact  that 
the  basal  streak  is  present,  and  it  is  therefore  really  much  nearer  to 
popuU  and  h'pusmUna.    The  species  is  a  very  simply  marked  one,  and 
Walker's  description  is  quite  characteristic  and  aiiplies  perfectly     Mr 
(irote  has  mentioned  the  fact  that  he  has  examined  the  type  and  that 
It  seemed  a  good  species,  and  this  is  borne  out  by  the  identification 
,)ust  made.    I  have  two  other  specimens  which  may  belong  to  this 
species,  but  differ  very  decidedly  in  ground  color  by  being  very  much 
darker  and  having  the  secondaries  more  powdery.    The  maculatiou  is 
the  same,  however,  and  as  both  my  specimens  are  females,  I  do  not  feel 
jnstilied  in  giving  the  form  a  name.    One  of  the  specimens  is  from 
"Murray  Bay,  Province  of  Quebec,  July  or  August,  E.  Corning,  ir" 
The  other  is  from  Calgary,  Canada,  June  25.    In  case  further  material 
proves  this  form  a  distinct  one,  I  would  propose  the  term  eana<h'mis,   i^ 
whKjh  may  be  applied  for  the  present  as  a  varietal  term.    The  foreleg      -Cl^ 
ot  the  male  is  rather  evenly  developed;  the  femur  is  not  unusually     ^^ 
hickened,  and  seems  rather  long  in  proportion  to  its  width.    The  AyP-W/^g 
tibia  IS  stout,  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  femur,  the  epiphysis 
reaching  to  the  tip  and  inserted  at  about  the  middle.    The  harpes  of 
tiie  male  are  broad  and  rather  short,  narrowing  from  each  edge  to  the 
pointed  tip.    The  clasper  is  rather  stout  and  long,  and  is  more  strongly 
curved  than  usual.    Pour  males  and  seven  females  are  before  me 
including  the  two  mentioned  as  varieties. 


1 

1 

',1 

i^l 

i  *M 

I 

1 

i^ 

]i 

>^  ;i      ':    It   1 

^1  11 

i 

n 

12 


H 


tiA'J 


58 


PBOCEEDINQS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


;i 


'I 


I    '•#" 


.  ACRONYCTA  CRETATA,  new  species. 

(riates  XI,  i\gH.  3,  t,  iiialo  iiiul  leiiiiilr,  adult;  .XVII,  tig.  15,  leg;  XIX,  ttg.  18,  umlo 

geuitaliii.) 

(Jround  color  chalky  wliite,  with  a  sparse  powdering  of  black  scales, 
which  are  chiefly  massed  along  the  costa,  the  internal  margin,  and 
behind  the  transverse  posterior  line.    The  basal  line  is  indicated  by  u 
small  black  dot  on  the  costa.    The  transverse  anterior  line  is  marked 
by  a  black  spot  on  the  costa,  a  triangnlar  mark  in  the  submedian  inter 
space,  and  an  irregular  blotch  on  the  internal  margin  near  its  n)iddle. 
The  median  shade  is  marked  by  a  black  spot  on  the  costa  above  the 
reniform,  and  it  may  send  a  vague  shade  to  that  spot.    The  inception 
of  the  transverse  posterior  line  is  also  marked  by  a  black  spot  on  the 
costa,  the  line  bending  outwardly  very  strongly  and  then  bisinuate, 
more  or  less  broken,  to  the  inner  margin.    The  line  is  emphasized  oppo 
site  the  cell  by  two  more  or  less  obvious  black  marks  which  indicate  a 
dagger,  and  in  the  submedian  interspace  it  is  very  prominent  and 
crossed  by  a  distinct  dash,  forming  a  typical  jm.    The  subterminal  line 
is  wanting.    There  is  a  series  of  distinct  black  terminal  dots,  whidi 
extend  to  the  middle  of  the  fringe  in  the  interspaces.    Tiie  ordinary 
spots  are  not  well  marked.    The  orbicular  may  be  absent;  it  may  be  a 
small  black  dot  or  a  small  circlet.    The  reniform  is  blackish  or  black 
and  irregularly  lunate.    There  is  a  short  black  basal  streak  which  does 
not  reach  to  the  transverse  anterior  line.    Secondaries  white,  the  veins 
a  little  smoky,  and  in  the  female  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  spot. 
Beneath  pure  white,  both  wings  with  a  discal  lunule,  and  in  the  female 
with  a  more  or  less  well-marked  outer  line;  a  series  of  terminal  spots 
on  both  wings.    The  head  and  thorax  are  without  markings,  save  for 
the  very  prominent  black  line  which  extends  from  the  sides  of  the 
palpi  across  the  eye  and  to  the  base  of  the  wings. 

Expanse,  male,  1.45  inches  (36  mm.);  female,  1.80  to  2  inches  (45  to 
50  mm.). 

Habitat.— Giivneld  County,  Colorado;  7,000  feet. 

Three  specimens  collected  by  Mr.  Bruce  are  types  in  the  collections 
of  U.  S.  National  Museum  and  Rutgers  College.  The  male  is  numbered 
833,  the  females  827,  828.  Whether  the  difference  in  si/e  between  the 
sexes  is  always  so  strongly  marked  as  in  the  specimens  before  me  I  can 
not  say,  but  I  am  inclined  to  doubt  it.  The  mule  specimen  here  is 
probably  undersized,  and  the  markings  are  much  less  definite  than  they 
are  in  the  female.  This  species  is  easily  distinguished  from  its  nearest  j 
ally,  leporina,  by  its  chalky  white  ground  color  and  its  more  powdery 
markings.  The  genital  structures  are  also  quite  obviously  distinct. 
In  cretata  the  harpes  arc  much  naiTower  and  the  tip  is  irregularly 
rounded,  while  the  clasper  is  much  shorter  and  stouter  than  in  its  east 
ern  ally.  The  structure  of  the  front  legs  in  the  male  is  also  different, 
the  femur  being  much  the  stoutest  in  cretata,  while  the  tarsi  are  rela 
tively  longer. 


i  NO.  1140. 


NORTH  JMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


59 


ACRONYCTA  LEPORINA  Linnaeus. 

(I'latoH  VIII,  Hg.  2(i,  hirvii;  XI,  figH.  1,  2,  mule  and  feiiiahi  adults;  .WII,  ««.  U,  leg; 

XIX,  ligs.  17,  II),  iiiiilogKiiitiiliii.) 

I'lialarna  noctua  leporina  Lin.varu.s  Syst.  Nat.,  ITIitJ,  I,  2,  p.  10}».  ' 

U'vomvta  leporina  HCbnkk,  Vnrzeicbiiiss,  181«,  p.  201.lTui:iT8cnKE,  Schniett 
Kur.,  lH2->,  V,  1,  p.  51.  " 

liuitela  vtilpina  Ghotio,  Can.  Ent.,  1883,  XV,  p.  8;  I'apilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68;  Can. 
Kilt.,  1888,  XIX,  ]).  20.— I'ACKAMi),  Fore-st  Insects,  1890,  p.  461.— (j'rotk 
Mittli.  a.  (1.  Kofiii.  MiiH.,  lliklosh.  No.  3,  IHtk),  j).  91.  ' 

IpaU'la  nancta  Hknhy  E.)\vaiiI)s,  Ento.  Anier.,  1888,  III,  p.  185. 

Ground  color  creamy  white,  the  black  powdering  sparse  and  not 
prominent.     Head  and  thorax  without  markings;  the  primaries  with 
tlie  ordinary  lines  more  or  less  incomplete.    The  basal  line  is  usually 
marked  by  a  dot  on  the  costa;  but  tiiat  is  not  always  present.    The 
I  tiiiiisverse  anterior  line  is  marked  by  a  distinct  black  cot.  al  spot  and  by 
a  small  angulated  mark  below  the  cell.    Occasionally  there  is  a  dusky 
shade  on  the  inner  margin.    The  median  shade  is  marked  by  a  black 
spot  at  about  the  middle  of  the  costa.    The  transverse  posterior  line 
is  usually  broken,  but  occasionally  it  is  almost  continuous,  sinuate,  and 
as  a  whole  follows  the  outer  margin.     When  the  line  is  broken  it  con- 
sists of  a  series  of  somewhat  lunate  spots  opposite  the  cell,  and  a  lunate 
inaik  in  the  submedian  interspace,  which  is  crossed  by  a  more  or  less 
obvious  black  dash,  though  this  may  be  entirely  wanting.    There  is  a 
series  of  black  terminal  spots  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  distinctly 
cut  with  black.    The  orbicular  may  be  wanting,  or  may  be  indicated  by 
I  a  black  dot  or  by  a  small  circlet.    The  reniform  is  marked  by  a  more  or 
less  distinct  but  indetiuite  black  lunule.    There  is  a  short  black  basal 
streak,  which  does  not  reach  the  angular  spot  indicating  the  transverse 
anterior  line.    The  secondaries  white  in  both  sexes,  sometimes  with 
quite  an  obvious  series  of  terminal  lunules.    Beneath  white,  with  a 
variably  ('videntdiscal  spot  and  outer  line— always  more  distinct  in  the 
female.    . 

J':xi»aiise,  1.50  to  l.SO  inches  (38  to  45  mm.). 

^l<il>it<it— Ontario,    Canada;    Maine;    Jefferson,    New   Hampshire- 

[Massachusetts;  New  York;  Northern  Hlinois.  ' 

Three  male  and  four  female  specimens  have  been  compared  with  a 

[  greater  number  of  both  sexes  from  Europe,  and  I  am  unable  to  discover 

auy  (liilerence  between  them.    As  a  whole,  our  specimens  are  perhaps 

a  trille  more  powdery  than  the  usual  run  of  those  from  Europe;  but 

i  P\ en  this  is  not  constant,  and  I  have  European  specimens  that  are  more 

I  powdery  than  some  American  examples.    The  only  variations  that  occur, 

so  far  as  1  have  seen,  are  in  the  distinctness  of  the  transverse  posterior 

hue  and  in  the  relative  size  of  the  black  spots.    Occasionally  speci- 

uic'iis  occur  in  which  the  black  markings  are  very  much  reduced,  so  that 

the  wing  at  rirst  sight  seems  rather  irregularly  black  spotted.     The 

head  is  moderate  in  size,  the  front  bulging,  but  not  prominent;  the 


CO 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


ton^'ue  normal.  The  anterior  lepr  of  the  male  is  stout,  the  ftMiinr  some 
what  wMenod  in  the  niahi,  and  a  little  excavated  interiorly  at  the  tip, 
The  tibia  is  .stout  and  rather  short,  with  the  epiphysis  as  usual  inserted 
at  about  the  middle.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  elonj^ated  and  rather 
nacrowed  at  the  tip;  the  clasper  is  moderate  in  length,  rather  slight, 
and  not  greatly  curved. 

LARVA. 

TllAXTEli,  Pnpilio,  1883,  III,  p.  li  (r/(/;,ina)._I)iMM()OK,  I'syclie,  lS8r>,  IV,  p.  271  - 
Ei.MOT  and  Hoi;lk,  Cm..  Ent.,  1S8B,  XVIII,  p.  124  (no  nauio).-rACKAiu. 
Fiftli  Kept.  U.  8.  Eat.  Coniin.,  1890,  p.  461  {vulpina). 

Stage  /.—I  lead  scarcely  bilobed,  nearly  white ;  width,  0.«J5  mm.  Hody 
white,  rather  opaque,  the  dorsum  of  joints  2,  4-5,  7-9,  and  lli  broadly 
pale  purplish  brown;  hairs  black  and  white  mixed.  Warts  with  a 
radiating  crown  and  central  hair,  IV  small  with  two  setae,  VI  present, 
elongate ;  several  setae  on  the  leg  plate. 

Stagv  //.—Head  white;  width,  1  mm.  Body  as  before  or  all  white; 
the  warts  large,  the  hair  long  and  abundant,  with  a  few  stitf  black  ones 
the  whole  length,  but  more  particuhuly  on  joints  r.,  7,  and  12.  A  few 
secondary  hairs. 

8t(uj('.  ///.—Head  creamy  white,  bilobed,  with  or  without  a  vertical 
line  of  spottings  on  the  face  of  each  lobe;  width,  1.0  mm.  Bt)dy  whit- 
ish, scarcely  touched  with  any  brown  marks,  even  in  the  most  heavily 
spotted  examples  of  the  previous  stage.  Warts  large,  concolorous,  the  I 
hairs  long  and  soft,  white,  curving,  some  of  them  secondary.  A  black 
pencil  dorsally  on  joints  5,  7,  and  12,  or  5,  7,  8,  and  12,  or  on  5,  7,  8,  9, 
and  12.  The  larva  sits  in  J-shape.  The  body  is  visible  through  tliej 
hairs. 

Stage  /F.— Head  white  or  with  a  black  mottled  streak  up  each  lobe,, 
full,  rounded,  scarcely  bilobed;  width,  2.0*  mm.    Body  white,  faintly | 
tinged  with  green.     Hairs  very  long,  both  primary  and  secondary,  fine, 
curving  a  little,  abundant,  but  not  concealing  the  body,  white,  a  few, 
short  black  ones  dorsally  on  joints  5,  7,  and  12  or  on  the  other  joints  j 
as  before.     Warts  rather  large,  but  low  and  inconspicuous,  norniiil. 
Another  larva  had  a  black  pencil  5,  7,  8,  and  12,  with  a  black  dot  on 
joint  1)  to  repiesent  a  tiftn  pencil. 

Stage  V  (interpolated).— In  one  instance  this  stage  was  observed; 
in  most  larvae  it  was  omitted.    Structure  and  coloration  as  before. 

Stage  F/.— Head  greenish  white,  immaculate,  or  with  a  little  blackish 
marking  in  the  n)iddle  of  each  lobe;  width,  4  mm.  Body  greenish 
white,  immaculate,  or  with  black  dorsal  spots  to  represent  the  hair  pen 
eils.  Pencils  now  absent,  the  hair  abundant,  very  long,  curving  over 
all  around,  brushed  forward  on  the  right  side,  backward  on  the  lelr.j 
Warts  small,  white;  secondary  hair  abundant,  rather  finer  than  the 
primary.  Hair  white  or  yellow,  a  few  short,  bristly,  black  ones  on  the 
ends  of  the  body.  Before  desctending  from  the  tree  to  nunato  *bc 
bead  turns  dull  brown  and  finally  black,  except  at  the  tip';  the  "body 


(J'l:lt.)8  VII,   fig 


N..  1 1 10         NOUTH  AMERICA .V  NOaTUIDA E~SMI m  AND  D YA R. 


61 


1km  oim's  (lull  brown,  tinged  with  green,  and  tlie  liair  olivaceous  bljick 
isli.  shading  to  yellow  at  the  tips. 

Cwoon.— Very  slight,  consiHting  of  a  few  threads  oidy. 

/'»/><».— Kegularly  taiK'ring,  the  anterior  sides  of  the  segincaits  punc- 
tured; shining,  mahogany  brown,  creniaster  blunt,  wrinkly,  slightly 
l.il()l>ed,  contracted  at  base,  and  with  a  series  of  recurve<l  hooks,  the 
n|)l'<'r  row  a  single  hook  or  absent,  the  lower  of  four  or  Ave  on  each 
side:  length,  11>  mm.;  width,  (J  mm. 

Food  plants.— Vo^hiv,  willow,  birch.  ' 


.  i ; 


ACRONYCTA  POPULI  Riley. 
(I'l.teH  VII,  (iK.2r,,  larva;  XI,  (i«.  7,  fou.ale  mlult;  XVII.  fig.  16.  leg;  XIX,  flg.20,  male 

gOlUtrtllU.) 

Amomjola  popuU  Rilkv,  Second  Rept.  Ins.  Mo.,  1870,  p.  ll!l.  (ig8.87  88 -G hoik 
Traim.  An,.  E„t.  Soc.  1872.  IV,  i..28  =  /e^,«,««/»m.-K,i.Kv,  Inuox  and  Mnnplt! 
to  Mo.  iiopts.,  1881,  p.  74,  f  leinisviiliiia. 
Aimtela  populi  Packaki.,   Ii.h.   Inj.  l-'oreHt  Trees,  1881,  p.  ll(i,   fig.  55.-Gi!(,tk 
I'apilio,  1881,  I,  1..  127  ^lepnaailinu.-HKSHY  Kdwaudh,  Ent.  Amor     1888* 
III,  p.  18.-,,  8p.di.st.;   Hull.  U.  8.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  35,  1889,  p.  81,  an  Bn.  dist' 
Irpitnoulina. 
Me,i<icroi,i,cta  populi  Gkoik,  Mitth. a. d.  Koeni.  Mus.,  Hildesh,  No.  \i,  18SHJ,  p. «. 
(Irouiid  color  white,  with  very  line  black  powderings  that  are  quite 
cvi'iily  distributed.    Head  and  thorax  without  definite  markings,  save 
that  sometimes  there  is  a.  blackish  shade  across  the  collar,  and  the  sides 
of  tlie  ]Kili.i  are,  as  usual,  black.    The  primaries  with  all  the  markings 
broken.    The  basal  line  is  marked  by  a  black  costal  spot,  usually  by  an 
aiif-nlated  mark  below  the  median  cell,  and  sometimes  by  a  black  spot 
at  Just  about  the  middle  of  the  inner  margin.    The  median  shade  is 
marked  by  quite  a  prominent  black  spot  on  the  costa,  but  rarely 
I  extends  beyond  that  point  and  never  extends  beyond  the  reniform. 
Tlie  transverse  posterior  line  is  most  nearly  complete,  but  never  con- 
tinuous, so  far  as  my  specimens  show.    At  its  best  it  is  somewhat  lu.iu- 
lated,  only  a  little  sinuate,  more  emphasized  opposite  the  cell  and  the 
anal  angle.    When  least  marked  there  is  only  a  black  spot  or  two  oppo- 
site coll,  and  a  black  lunule  opposite  the  anal  angle.    There  is  every 
possible  intergrade  between  these  two  forms.    Opposite  the  cell  there  is 
usually  an  indication  of  a  short,  black  streak  from  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line,  and  opposite  the  anal  angle  there  is  a  similar  indication 
emi.hasi/.ed  by  a  blackish  shading.    In  rare  instances  this  black  mark 
extends  across  the  line  inwardly.    The  terminal  space  is  a  little  darker 
than  the  rest  of  the  wing.    There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots, 
be\(,iid  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black.    There  is  a  short  black 
basal  streak  which  does  not  extend  to  the  transverse  anterior  line,  and 
does  not  connect  with  the  angular  mark  which  represents  that  line  in 
most  of  the  specimens.    The  orbicular  is  wanting,  or  is  at  most  very 

laintlv  indicatfi<l.     In  nuo  ai^aoi>M»!.  ^..i.,  „*■  .,ii  4.\ i  " 

•  —  """  -•;-.  ,...,!^i,  T/iiij  ui  nil  Liiuau  Dciore  me  is  it 

outlined  in  black.    The  reniform  is  a  vaguely  defined,  blackish,  lunate 


fi2 


rnncKEDisafi  of  the  xtTroxAt.  mvskvm. 


vouxxr. 


iimrk.  HecotHliirieH  white,  th«  (VitiKos  iiiaikod  with  a  H<>rio«  of  black 
dots  at  l)H80.  Ilcnoatli  wiiite,  witli  a  more  or  icsw  distinct  owUm-  line 
and  diHcal  spot.  Tlie  HiiotH  at  tliu  buHe  of  tlio  fringes  are  also  duplicated 
from  tlie  upper  wide. 

Kxpanse,  X.M)  to  1.00  inelies  (.'{3  to  47  mm.). 

y/«i/<rt/.— Oanaila;  liondon,  Ontario,  May  20;  Urbana  and  (nii<'aK.), 
Illinois,  June  28;  MaHsaehusetts;  New  York;  Long  Island;  Missouri 
in  May;  Kansas;  Nebraska;  Seattle,  Washinj^on. 

Twenty-four  spoeimeus,  almost  eveidy  divided  as  to  sox,  iiro  before 
me  from  the  various  localities  nientione<l.  All  the  dates  are  in  May  and 
June,  and  the  specimens  run  cpiite  evenly  and  without  any  uuirk.d 
variation.  The  absence  of  the  orbi(Hilar  and  the  very  short  basal  streak 
will  serve  to  distinguish  this  species  in  all  cases.  From  its  near  ally 
leimmmlina,  with  which  it  has  been  generally  confounded,  it  dilTers  by 
the  broader  wings  of  the  fenuUe,  by  a  paler  and  less  apj)areiit  grouiiil 
color,  as  well  as  by  the  basal  dash  and  orbicular,  as  already  mentioned. 
Altogether  the  species  has  a  very  distinctive  look  when  the  specimens 
are  brought  together  and  separated  from  the  others.  The  front  h 
moderately  bulging,  but  is  not  prominent,  while  the  pali)i  never  exei-ed 
the  middle,  and  sometimes  do  not  reach  it.  The  genitalia  of  the  male 
have  the  side  pieces  broad,  very  obtusely  aiul  somewhat  irregularly 
rouuded  at  the  tip,  while  the  clasper  is  of  moderate  length  and  ratli(3r 
slender.  The  legs  are  moderately  stout,  the  femur  quite  evenly  projxir 
tioned,  the  tibia  with  the  epiphysis  extending  to  the  tip,  as  is  usual  in 
this  section.  Compared  with  leporina  the  species  is  narrower  winged 
and  more  powdery,  and  the  nuirkings  are  a  little  more  complete;  other- 
wise the  resemblance  is  close. 


LARVA. 

RiLKY,  Second  Kept.  Ins.  Mo.,  1870,  p.  119,  (i>»2}uli).—FHKNcu,  Trans.  Dept.  Aj;r., 
111.,  1877,  XV,  p.  1301.— Mautkn,  Trans.  l)ei>t.  Agr.,  111.,  1880,  XVIII,  ,>.  130.- 
Saundeus,  Can.  Ent.,  1882,  XIV,  p.  221,  ii-.;  Ropt.  Ent.  Soc.  Ont.,  IW, 
p.  24,  llg. 

Stof/e  IF.— Width  of  head,  about  2  mm.  All  whitish,  with  a  green- 
ish tint.  Hair  long  and  white,  with  black  pencils  on  Joints  5,  7,  and 
12,  and  a  few  black  hairs  the  whole  length  from  tubercles  1  and  IT, 
almost  forming  a  pencil  on  joint  8. 

Stage  F/.— Width  of  head,  4  to  4.8  mm.  Shining  black,  as,  also, 
the  cervical  shield  and  thoracic  feet,  liody  covered  with  long,  light 
yellow  secondary  hairs;  live  single  dorsal  black  pencils  from  tubercle 
I  on  joints  o,  7,  8,  «>,  and  12.  Those  on  joints  5  and  12  are  the  most 
persistent;  some  or  all  of  the  others  maybe  weak  or  absent.  Skin  I 
sordid  white;  brownish  dorsally  on  joints  3  and  4.  Warts  small,  con 
colorous,  obscure;  hairs  simple,  very  long,  not  obscuring  the  body. 
Venter  shaded  with  brownish;  leg  plates  ])artly  black.  Spiracles 
bla<'k  rimmed. 

C'ocoow.— Composed  of  silk  and  chips  of  wood. 


NO   1140. 


XOtnU  AMERICAN  NOCWWAR-aMITR  AND  DTAR. 


68 

/'»/K/.-Hobn«t,  tlio  alMlotnmi  re,jnlarly  taporitiff,  the  HOKinonU 
.•.K.rsdy,  rather  densoly  puiuitunHl  anteriorly;  wir.jf  casoH  ,.rea8cd  and 
sl,M-re.'i.ed.  Crernaster  lar^e,  lhi<,k,  coi.Htrirted  at  tho  bam,,  ooarselv 
.l.nH..|y  wrinkled;  upper  hook  single,  HtronKly  recurved ;  h,wer  hooks 
tni.i  or  five  on  each  Hide,  well  separated  and  bent  down  Hubparallel  to 
till'  surface  of  the  pupa. 
Food  plant. — Poplar. 

ACRONYCTA  LEPUSCULINA  Ouente. 
(l'lu».'«I,  «K.  1,  adult;  XI,  fl«.  x,  female  adult;  XIX,  rt«.  21,  male  Kenitulia.) 

Hnt.  Mum.,  H(^t.,  1H5«,  IX,  p.  55. 

im,  \  I,  p.  154.-HENHV  Kdwahls.  Knto.  Amer.,  1«88,  III,  p.  185. 
( i  round  color  white,  quite  stroii^ly  powdered  with  black.    The  ordi- 
nary lines  diHtinet  in  nu^at  cases  and  always  traceable.     Masai   lino 
■narked  oy  a  black  spot  on  the  costa.    Transverse  anterior  line  marked 
l.v  n  black  costal  spot,  and  from  this  point  it  is  geminate,  with  an  even 
outcurve,  to  the  middle,  where  it  meets  the  basal  dash  and  begins 
another  even   outcurve  to  the  internal  margin.    The  line  is  rarely 
.ntirely  complete,  but  its  geminate  character  is  marked  in  all  the 
spc.  imens  that  are  before  me,  and  it  is  in  almost  every  instance  trace- 
al.le  on  both  sides  of  the  basal  streak.    The  median  shade  is  marked  bv 
a  black  spot  on  the  (H)sta,  and  as  a  rule  extends  across  the  reuiforni, 
bul  not  beyond.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is  (juite  usually  com- 
l.ote,  lunulate,  and  .,uite  strongly  dentated  on  the  veins;  sometin.es 
tie  hue  IS  quite  narrow,  and  sometimes  dentated  in  both  directions 
More  usually  the  lunules  are  ciuite  distimit,  generally  the  line  is  some- 
wiiat  emphasized  opposite  the  cell,  and  is  also  more  distinct  opposite 
lu'  anal  angle,  where  it  i^  usually  crossed  by  a  black  dagger  mark, 
ll.e.e  isaseries  of  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut 
with  black.     Ihere  is  a  distinct  black  basal  streak,  which  extends  to 
iind  IS  connected  with  the  transverse  anterior  line.    The  orbicular  is 
niaiked  m  all  the  specimens  that  I  have  seen,  and,  though  small,  is 
black  ringed.    The  reniform  is  usually  an  indefinite  dusky  lunule,  but 
IS  sometimes  completely  outlined  and  large  kidney  shaped.    The  sec 
"•■(lanes  are  white,  usually  with  a  terminal  dark  line,  sometimes  with 
a  series  of  terminal  dots.    Beneath  white,  more  or  less  powderv,  with 
an()uter  discal  line  and  a  more  or  less  evident  discal  spot. 
Kxpaiise,  J.oO  to  2  inches  (37  to  50  mm.). 

IMntat  Loug  Island,  New  York;  Manchester,  New  Hampshire; 
Hnnda;  Kansas  in  September;  Volga,  South  Dakota;  Colorado;  Mon- 
tana.  ' 

Tlie  only  date  of  capture  that  I  have  for  tliis  species  is  September, 
ami  unfortunately  the  entire  collection  contains  only  nine  spc.imc.Ks! 
llu'se,  however,  run  veiy  constant,  and  in  the  characters  that  I  have 


r-^ 


64 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI, 


pointed  out  differ  strongly  from  popuU.  I  have  selected  this  species  na 
the  type  of  Gueneft's  description,  because  it  is,  without  any  doubt, 
included  by  him  in  his  cbiiracterizatiou.  It  is  also  quite  certain  that 
Eileyhad  both  forms  before  him  when  ho  described  liis  species;  so, 
strictly  speaking,  the  names  referred  to  the  same  aggregation  of  exam- 
ples. As  there  are  two  fornjs,  however,  aiul  as  Riley's  figure  and  type 
refer  distinctly  to  the  form  in  which  the  basal  streak  is  very  short,  it 
seems  fair  to  retain  his  name  and  to  apply  Gueuee's  term  to  the  othir 
form,  which  has  been  mixed  with  it.  One  other  point  that  was  not  men- 
tioned in  the  description  of  the  preceding  species  as  distinguishing  it 
from  the  one  now  under  consideration  is  that  here  the  transverse  ante- 
rior line  is  iii  almost  every  case  more  or  less  evident,  and  yet  distinctly 
geminate.  In  no  example  of  populi  do  we  find  any  approaching  to  this. 
The  species  is,  on  the  whole,  narrower  winged,  and  as  it  is  also  more 
coarsely  black  powdered  it  has  quite  a  distinctive  appearance.  In  male 
genital  characters  it  does  not  ditt'er  essentially  from  the  preceding;  but 
the  side  pieces  are  rather  narrower  as  a  whole,  while  the  clasper  is 
shorter  and  proportionately  very  much  broader. 


H  1, 


,    ACRONYCTA  CINDERELLA,  uew  species. 
(Piatos  XI,  fifT.  11,  male  adult;  XX,  lig.  1,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  very  pale  ash  gray,  almost  whitish,  but  with  coarse 
black  powderings,  which  give  it  the  ashen  appearance.  Head  and 
thorax  of  the  ground  color  as  is  usual.  The  primaries  have  the  ordi- 
nary markings  rather  imperfectly  written.  The  basal  line  is  marked 
by  a  small  black  dot  on  the  costa,  very  close  to  the  base.  The  trans- 
verse anterior  line  is  more  or  less  complete;  in  one  case  entirely  dis- 
tinct, but  in  most  instances  only  partly  defined.  It  is  always  gemiuate, 
however,  so  far  as  it  is  obvious.  In  the  worst  case  it  is  marked  by  a 
distinct  costal  spot,  by  a  pair  of  angulated  marks  below  the  cell,  and 
by  a  pair  of  spots  on  the  internal  margin.  A  black  spot  over  tlie 
reniform  marks  the  origin  of  the  median  shade,  which  is  not  traceable, 
however,  beyond  that  point.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  continu- 
ous in  all  the  specimens,  usually  lunulated  aud  sometimes  <iuite  strongly 
dentate  on  the  veins.  It  may  or  may  not  be  emphasized  opposite  tlie 
cell;  but  is  always  marked  opposite  the  anal  angle  where  there  is  also 
a  slender  black  line  crossing  it.  The  terminal  space  is  a  little  dark(  r 
Uian  the  rest  of  the  wing.  There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots, 
beyond  which  the  wings  are  cut  by  blackish  marks.  The  basal  streak 
is  distinct  for  half  its  length,  and  beyond  that  lessens  to  a  narrow  line 
which  reaches  the  transverse  anterior  cross  line.  This  difference  in  the 
strength  of  the  line  is  noticeable  in  all  the  specimens.  The  orbicular  is 
marked  in  all  the  specimens,  irregularly  oval  and  black  ringed.  The 
reniform  is  a  dusky,  indefined  lunule.  Secondaries  white,  with  the  outer 
margin  a  little  soiled,  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  niarks  bevond  wliicl! 
the  fringes  are  cut  with  dusky.    On  the  under  side  the  wings  are  white 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140.         NOBTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DYAIi.  65 

or  nearly  80,  powdered,  with  a  more  or  lessTbvious^outernnT  and 
(iistuii  spot* 

I']xpaii8e,  1.25  to  1.80  iuclies  {32  to  45  mm.). 

//.y.//«Y._Oolorado,  without  date  or  definite  locality  j   Miles  City 
iMontana,  June  3.  .     " '  ^^^'jrj 

Five  males  and  two  females  are  at  hand  for  comparison.  The  species 
•s  mos  nearly  like  lepusculina;  but  it  differs  by  the  much  darker  ground 
color,  the  somewhat  narnower  and  more  powdery  primaries,  while  the 
transverse  posterior  Ime  is  continuous  in  all  the  specimens,  ihe  harpes 
ure  narrower  and  more  pointed  than  in  its  ally,  and  the  clasper  is  quite 
.tout  and  well  developed.  The  front  is  moderately  bulging,  but  not 
prominent.  The  palin  reach  to  its  middle  and  in  leg  structure  it  does 
uot  difter  apparently  from  lepusculina. 

''^sZ^tl^'^^  7i^ANSVERSATA,  new  species. 
(Plates  X,  fig.  10,  male  adult;  XX,  fig.  3,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  ashen  gray,  distinctly  and  quite  densely  black  pow- 
dered    The  head  and  thorax  are,  as  usuu,  without  markings  except 
or  a  black  hue  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  primaries  from  the  sides  of 
the  palpi.    The  ordinary  maculation  is  more  or  less  distinctly  traceable 
m  all  the  specimens  before  me,  though  never  quite  complete.    The  basal 
I  n.e  IS  marked  by  a  black  spot  on  the  costa.    The  transverse  anterior 
mo  IS  m.^rked  by  a  black  spot  on  the  costa,  which  is  sometimes  double 
by  a  pair  ot  angulated  marks  below  the  cell,  and  by  one  or  two  lunules 
on  the  inner  margin.    In  one  case  the  connection  between  these  spots 
un.l  .narks  IS  almost  complete,  so  there  is  nearly  a  full  transverse  ante- 
rior line.    The  median  shade  is  marked  by  a  blackish  spot  on  the  costa 
extending  obliquely  to  darken  the  reniform,  thence  abruptly  bent  and 
nmning  parallel  with  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  inner  margin 
The  transverse  posterior  line  is  well  marked,  continuous,  narrowly  lunu- 
latedmoreor  less  obviously  marked  opposite  the  cell,  where  there  is 
usually  a  distinct  dagger.    The  line  is  black  shaded  opposite  the 
mteinal  angle,  and  there  is  an  evident  dagger  crossing  it.    The  termi- 
nal space  IS  darker  than  the  rest  of  the  wing,  and  there  is  a  series  of 
s ma  1  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black.    The 
black  streak  at  the  base  is  distinct  and  extends  without  break  from 
the  base  t^  the  transverse  anterior  line.    The  orbicular  is  round,  or 
"early  so,  black  ringed.    The  reniform  is  indelined  and  dusky.    Sec- 
oiulanes  white,  or  nearly  so,  in  the  female  outwardly  soiled.    Beneath 
hit.sh,  with  a  more  or  less  complete  outer  line,  and  an  obvious  discal 
[spot  ou  all  wings. 

Expanse,  1.00  to  1.80  inches  (40  to  45  mm.). 
Mahitat.—Colonido,  no  date  or  special  locality. 

Inh!!"'^,  "'?'^'  ""I?  ''"*'  ^'^""^^^  °^  '^"'  'P^'^^^^  ^^«  '^t  hand,  and  it  differs 

IOOVI(in,«lv  frnin   ..11   f}w>.."  i^h.-*-  > ■>     j    ■      •  -  "^'"VJio 

isliwi  rv"       t1                          ""  pieceaed  it  by  the  complete  median 
|«h.ult  line.    It  18  also  somewhat  darker  than  any  of  the  other  species, 
Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 6  ' 


66 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  TEE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


and  is  narrower  winged  in  both  sexes.  On  studying  a  series  of  species 
beginning  with  cretata,  we  And  a  very  pretty  and  gradual  development 
from  a  perfecjtly  white  form,  in  which  the  markings  are  all  blotchy  and 
the  wings  in  the  female  are  very  broad,  through  a  very  similar  tyi»e 
seen  in  Icporina,  tf)  a  more  powdery  but  still  broad-winged  form  like 
populi,  all  with  only  a  short  basal  streak;  tlien  a  form  like  lepuscuUm, 
where  all  the  markings  tend  to  become  complete,  to  Cinderella,  where 
they  are  nearly  so,  to  transversata,  where  the  median  shade  line  first 
becomes  distinct  throughout  its  whole  course.  In  this  species  we  have 
the  most  completely  marked  type,  and  also  the  narrowest  wings  in  both 
sexes.  There  is  little  variation  in  the  specimens  betore  me,  but  probably 
the  range  is  greater  than  is  indicated  by  my  specimens.  It  is  not 
inconceivable  that  this  is  an  extreme  form  of  the  species  just  previously 
described,  and  there  is  nothing  in  the  structural  characters  opposed  to 
that  idea.  As  the  material  stands  now,  however,  the  species  is  well 
based,  and  is  recognizable  by  the  characters  already  enumerated. 

ACRONYCTA  TOTA  Grote. 

(Plates  X,  fig.  11,  female  adult;    XVII,  fig.  17,  leg;  XIX,  flg.  23,  male  genitalia.) 
Apatela  tola  Grote,  North  Am.  Ent.,  1879,  I,  p.  12;  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  69. 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  blue  ash  gray,  with  dense  black  powderings.  | 
The  basal  line  is  feebly  or  not  at  all  marked.  Transverse  anterior  line 
distinct  throughout  its  entire  course;  geminate  nearly  upright,  just  a 
little  drawn  in  below  the  cell.  The  two  parts  of  the  line  are  quite  well 
separated,  leaving  the  ground  color  visible  between.  The  median 
shade  is  marked  on  the  costa,  but  not  prominent,  and  is  vaguely 
extended  to  the  veniform.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  unusually 
near  the  outer  margin;  is  more  or  less  distinctly  geminated,  the  outer 
line  most  distinct,  while  the  included  space  is  pale,  ir  is  very  even, 
and  as  a  whole  not  very  strongly  bisinuate.  There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots,  and  the  fringes  are  rather  indistinctly  marked  with 
smoky.  The  black  basal  streak  is  distinct  and  extends  to  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line  without  break.  There  is  no  dagger  mark  or  other 
shade  emphasizing  the  transverse  posterior  line.  The  orbicular  is  small, 
nearly  round,  black  ringed.  The  reniform  is  very  large,  kidney  shaped, 
completely  ringed,  and  with  a  dusky  inner  lunule.  The  secondaries 
are  white  in  the  male,  smoky  in  the  female,  in  which  sex  there  is  also  a 
distinct  discal  spot,  and  a  pale  outer  line  running  through  the  smoky 
exterior  part  of  the  wing.  Jieneath,  the  wings  are  whitish,  with  the 
usual  discal  spots  and  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.28  to  1.40  inches  (32  to  35  mm.). 

Habitat. — Texas  in  March. 

Plight  specimens  are  before  me,  most  of  them  females,  and  four  of  | 
them  collected  by  Belfrage.    One  specimen  is  marked  Comal  County, 
and  is  the  only  one  with  a  definite  locality.    This  species  can  not  very 
well  be  jnistakon  for  a!iything  else.    It  is  the  smallest  in  this  group,  as 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


67 

well  as  the  darkest  and  most  simply  „,arked.    There  17^i;solutelv 

win'h'lm  """"^T  "."'  "''  '"'^"''  ^^"'"^^^^  ^'•'^"^^^-e  anterior  line 
^^lllch  will  serve  to  characterize  the  sj.ecies.     The  harpes  are  almos 

<.nved  The  anterior  leg  is  also  well  developed  for  an  insect  of  this 
size,  but  rather  in  the  tibia  and  tarsi  than  in  the  femur.  The  epinhvs  s 
.8,  as  usual,  attached  to  the  middle  and  extends  to  the  tip.  The  lead  s 
ar.er  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  insect  than  is  usua!  in  this  ge  ui  ' 
Mit  the  palp,  on  the  other  hand,  are  very  short,  scarcely  even  reLh  ng 

Group  LOBELIAE. 

The  most  obvious  superficial  characters  of  this  group  are  the  usually 

omment  ps^  or  dagger  marks,  and  the  moderate  primaries  in  wUch 

lie  inner  margin  is  not  much  shorter  than  the  costa.    The  outer  margin 

s  ,uite  evenly  arcuate,  only  a  little  oblique,  and  the  apex  is  rectangu 

ar,  or  even  a  little  rounded.    The  costa  is  rather  evenly  arched  and 

(qual     Yet  the  group  as  defined  above  is  not  a  strictly  natural  one 
and  ,t  has  been  imt,ossible  to  so  arrange  the  species  in  tabular  form  as 
t    show  re  atioi-ships.    On  the  other  hand,  while  the  sexual  structure 
0   the  ma  e  serve  to  mark  two  very  distinct  subgroups,  there  are  off" 
s  00 ts   hat  confuse.    The  best-developed  type  may  be'consider  d  tCat 
tound  mhasta,  /urct/era,  and  laetijica,  in  which  the  lateral  clasper  is 
separated  from  the  harpes,  is  broad,  scoopshaped,  and  has  T lon^ 
tinger-  Ike  projection  superiorly.    Koughly,  the  structure  may  be  com 
pa  ed  to  a  hand  from  which  thumb  and  all  save  the  index  flifger  Ce 

added,  m  lobehae  and  several  allied  forms,  a  flnger-like  process  which 
been  added  and  extended  at  right  angles  to  the  pahn.  The  size  and 
an  inferLr  l^"*"'  ^'""T  ''^"'''  ^"^  ««^"«ti"^««  'he  palm  or  scoop  adds 

^  is  we  find  nT';  ^!  1 P"''  "'  *''  ^^'"'  ^""^'^  ''^''  b«^"  ^1««  restored. 
T      we  find  Illustrated  lu  pnmi.    In  brumosa  (mbochrea)  we  find  a 

ak  m  a  new  direction.    The  thumb  or  upper  process  becomes  longer 
<i-ia  more  slender,  the  palm  becomes  more  flattened,  and  the  upper 
.ocess  IS  beak-lik.    It  is  an  obvious  member  of  the  /;*./ Jtype,'bu 
-«.m  gnmp!  ''  ""^'"^^  ^''"'"^  '""^  ^^"^'«P^d  in  the  2,.>-. 

With  lithospila  begins  another  break.  The  palm  becomes  reduced  in 
^>/t,  tl  e  upper  margin  bends  over,  the  finger  process  thus  becomes 
somewhat  beak-like,  while  the  thumb  becomes  more  slender    InlTl 

:  'rrrr ""''"""'' '"'  ^^^  ^^^  ^  «*^"*'^-«  ^^-^  «-'-«ts  ofriz 

xcavated,  tapering  process,  with  a  slender  finger-like  structure  from 

.ttZT  hT?-     ""'^PP"'^^  '^"^  «"P«^*--  «"^«r-^''-  structure   w" 
.et  unnula,  but  it  we  reduce  it  in  size  and  make  the  process  itself 


•5' 


68 


VROCEIiDINUS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


IfMl 


beak-like  we  get  first  jxirallela  and  Anally  grisea,  in  wbich  only  the 
beak-like  process  is  developed.  In  connevta  the  clasper,  while  it 
strongly  resembles  that  of  tritona,  becomes  interiorly  united  with  the 
sidepiece,  the  superior  process  becomes  larger  and  more  prominent, 
and  apparently  arises  mucli  nearer  the  middle  of  the  harpes.  In  fragl 
lis  and  funeralis  there  is  a  curious  similarity  in  development.  The 
inferior  portion  of  the  clasper  is  somewhat  Hattened,  united  to  the. 
harpes  except  at  the  tip  where  it  is  freed,  and  has  the  inferior  angle 
prolonged.  From  these  forms  the  transition  into  the  hamamelis  type  is 
easy  and  requires  only  the  loss  of  the  inferior  process  of  the  clasper. 

In  this  connection  a  study  of  the  European  psi,  cuspis,  and  tridens  is 
interesting.  None  of  them  hu±  the  superior  process  and  none  of  them 
have  the  scoop-shapod  clasper  distinctly  developed.  Cuspifi  is  curi- 
ously intermediate  between  lobeliae  and  persuasa,  while  in  alni  we  see 
distinctly  the  structure  which  brings  funeralis  close  to  afflicta,  while 
also  indicating  the  tridms  derivation.  Tridens  is  most  nearly  like 
UthoHpila,  while  psi  v,o\\ti\hm  all  the  hamamelis  possibilities  and  those 
of  the  group  auricoma.  None  of  the  species  examined  by  me  show 
any  resemblance  to  our  grisea  type,  wliile  on  the  other  hand  we  have 
nothing  in  the  least  resembling  megacephala. 

As  we  find  thus,  in  the  sexual  structures,  variations  in  several  direc- 
tions, so  we  find  in  the  adults  that  from  the  strongly  developed  psi 
lype  the  macnlation  tends  to  the  strigate  lithospila,  to  the  dentate 
fragilis,  to  the  powdery  roughened  superans,  and  to  the  smooth,  uniform, 
cleanly  defined  type  iu  falcula,  parallela,  and  allies.  The  same  type  of 
maculation  is  duplicated  in  two  or  more  divisions;  hence  any  arrange- 
ment on  superficial  appearance  will  be  certaiu  to  contradict  that  made 
on  structural  characters  merely.  For  convenience  of  determination, 
superficial  characters  will  be  used  in  the  table  and  in  the  review  of  the 
species. 

While  there  is  no  absolute  agreement,  nevertheless  as  a  whole  the 
members  of  this  group  have  the  epiphysis  of  the  anterior  tibia  of  the 
male  inserted  at  or  above  the  middle,  the  lappet  not  reaching  the  tip 
of  the  member,  while  the  tarsi  are  proportionately  longer. 

First  of  all  we  may  separate  innotata  and  betnlae  as  having  no  black 
lines,  streaks,  or  dagger  marks  of  any  description.  Tlie  wings  are  a 
little  shorter  and  broader  than  usual,  but  the  general  scheme  of  macu 
lation  is  similar.  Innotata  is  white  or  yellowish,  with  the  transverse 
posterior  line  emphasized  by  black  scales,  while  betulae  is  of  a  peculiar 
reddish  clay  or  luteous,  without  a  trace  of  black  anywhere. 

Morula,  occidentalis,  paiipercula,  vinnula,  and  fragilis  are  united  by 
having  a  black  streak  at  base,  a  dagger  mark,  which  may  or  may  not 
cross  the  transverse  posterior  line,  opposite  the  anal  angle,  and  another, 
much  less  marked,  opposite  the  cell.  The  ordinary  spots  are  not  in 
any  way  united  or  tied  by  a  black  line  or  mark.  The  vestiture  is  smootli, 
and  the  markings  are  not  picked  out  by  raised  scales.    Morula  and 


NO.  1140. 


^Ji^  AMKltlCAN  mCTUIDAE-SMim  AND  DYAlt. 


60 
oecidentaUs  are  allied  in  sexual  structure  to  each  other  and  t^olSae"- 
luu^percula^na  ^mnula  are  much  more  nearly  allied  to  tritona  andVl^a 
Mlule  pagUu  stands  pointing  to  funeralu,  hamamelis,  and  ,rSl  wTth 
indications  toward  connecta  or  tritona 

Morula  is  easily  known  by  its  large  size,  its  discolorous  yellow  thoracic 
disk,  and  the  yellowish  shades  in  the  primaries 

Occtdentalis  is  very  similiar,  but  much  smaller,  and  the  thoracic  disk 
.s  not  ye  ow  or  otherwise  discolored.  In  the  structure  o^tT^  male 
Haspers  the  spec.es  differ  little.  In  occulcutalis  the  process  from  the 
■snpeimr  margin  is  reduced  to  a  small  angulation,  wl.iU,  in  Znlit  s 
ii  lliit  triangular  process.  •.  "^uruia  n  is 

Panpercula  might  pass  for  a  small  occidentalis,  but  it  has   i  reddish 
shade,  and  the  black  streak  from  the  base  to  the  tra isverse  anterio 
■ne  IS  very  heavy,  and  has  a  small  spur  or  angle  inferiorra    if  the 
Ime  had  started  to  divide,  and  in  this  characte.  it  agrees  w^h  X  '^ 

11.18  seems  at  first  sight  like  a  very  small  character;  but  it  is  constant 
within  specific  liniits,  and  all  the  species  with  similar  nia  e  tZX 
Lave  this  spurred  or  broken  basal  streak.  Unfortunately,  some  of  the 
species  with  a  diffuse  streak  sometimes  have  a  similar  spuk  so  that  Je 
character  is  not  satisfactory  for  isolating  just  this  group 

Unnnla  is  unique  by  its  glistening  white  vestiture,  which  is  marked 
by  bluish  brown,  or  mossy-green  shadings.    All  th^  tran  versTlk.es 

raffUts  IS  unique.     The  wings  resemble  the  albarufa-hamamdis  tvDe 
he  ground  color  is  smoky  brown  or  blackish,  and  the  vrrrstlnilv 

Sr  Altter''?- """/"^^'  """^'^'''^^  whiteTcoC:;^^ 

shades.    Altogether  it  is  easily  separable  from  all  others  in  the  section 

to  which  only  its  superficial  characters  refer  it  ' 

Lo,'tiJica,furci/era,  hasta,  manitoha,  thoracica,  an<l  strigttlata  agree  in 

a  general  resemblance  to  the  preceding  series,  but  have  the  oSarv 

spots  distinctly  tied  or  connected  by  a  black  streak  or  ifh  o  t  ve J 

M  e.    Of    these  the  last-mentioned  two  have  a  discolorous  thoradc 

lo.s,im  and  a  tendency  to  strigate  maculation,  while  all  the  others  are 

H.nnal  in  this  res,.ect.    All  the  species  grouped  here  are  alLd  inLnT 

tal. ^structure  and,  except  for  the  strigate  forms,  resembJ:  eaci  oTher 

LaHifica  dm-evB  from  the  others  of  the  series  by  the  pale,  milky-white 
1'n.nanes,  ,n  which  it  agrees  with  occidentaHs.  The  speces  l.iTMen 
confused  with, /«m/ba  which  it  does  not  resemble  1 '^  ^  tS^ 
^    /.n  .K  with  which  small,  obscurely  marked  examples  may  be  ^on 

"l  be  Jen'tl  ""f  ^''""'"^'  '^"^^•^^^'  '"  ^^-' '*^«  ---tTng 

(le    ^^  r  H  T"^  '^'^''  ^'  sometimes  wanting  on  one  or  bot£ 

.     kinrof  /r  '^«"'"^!^"««  ^-y  '^^^rk,  smoky  brown,  and  the  black 

nun  kings  of  the  primaries  niiK^h  fi.ioker  n,n«i  — r^  -  -  v  •       ^    , 

occidentaHs.         '  '"'"'^  prominent  than  m 


70 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


Loheliae  is  the  largest  of  this  series  in  average  expanse  and  much  the 
best  marked.    All  the  bhick  dashes  and  dagger  marks  are  fully  devel 
oped,  and  the  basal  streak  is  heavy  and  crosses  the  transverse  anterior 
line  in  most  instances.    The  ground  color  is.  on  the  whole,  only  a  little 
darker  than  in  laetijica. 

Furcifera  is  a  decidedly  darker,  bluish-gray  species,  and  distinctly 
smaller  in  average  size.  Yet  a  hirge  fnrvif era  may  fully  equal  a  small 
loheliae,  and  in  that  case  the  darker  ground  color  of  the  present  species 
and  the  darker,  smoky  secondaries  may  be  relied  upon.  As  a  rule  tlie 
basal  streak,  though  as  prominent  as  in  loheliae,  does  not  cross  the  inner 
transverse  anterior  line,  and  the  dagger  mark  opposite  the  cell  is  less 
prominent  and  rarely  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line.  Though  on 
superficial  characters  there  may  be  occasionally  a  doubt  as  betweeu 
/o6('M«e  and /-Mrt't/mj,  the  male  claspers  of  the  former  have  always  a 
long  linger-like  process  from  the  upper  margin,  of  which  those  oi  fur- 
cifera show  no  trace. 

Hasia  is  very  closely  allied  io  furcifera,  and  the  species  are  mixed  in 
almost  all  collections.  With  a  series  of  both  species  at  hand  separa- 
tion is  easy;  with  a  few  specimens  only  there  may  be  doubt.  Hasia 
as  a  wlf.i'i  is  of  a  clearer  ashen-gray  ground  color,  to  which  the  smoky 
shadings  give  a  peculiar  mottle<l  appearance  which  is  not  present  iu 
furcifera.  In  the  latter  species  the  secondaries  are  in  the  male  dis- 
tinctly smoky,  while  in  haitta  they  are  almost  white,  with  only  a  sliglit 
smoky  yellowish  tinge.  In  the  female  the  difference  is  less  obvious, 
but  also  present.  The  male  genitalia  are  practically  alike  in  the  two 
species. 

Manitoha  is  a  very  distinct  species,  continuing  in  the  direction  in 
which  hasta  diverges  from  furcifera.  The  primaries  are  yet  clearer 
ash  gray,  the  mottling  tends  a  little  to  the  strigate  type,  and  the 
secondaries  in  the  male  are  white,  with  only  a  very  narrow,  soiled 
outer  edge. 

Thoracica  is  yet  paler,  the  transverse  anterior  line  is  almost  lost, 
and  the  strigate  character  of  the  marking  is  obvious.  Besides  the 
discoloration  of  the  thoracic  disk,  there  is  a  vague  yellowish  shading 
in  the  primaries.  A  ]>rominent  black  streak  extends  from  tlie  costa 
obliquely  outward  between  the  ordinary  spots,  which  are  very  close 
together  and  not  at  all  well  defined. 

Strigulaia  forms  the  end  of  this  line,  with  very  pale  blue-gray  strigiite 
primaries,  in  which  nearly  all  the  tranverse  maculation  is  obsolete,  and 
IDure  white  se<!ondaries  in  both  sexes.  The  discolored  thoracic  tuft  is 
small  and  sometimes  almost  obsolete;  but  the  relationship  to  thoracica 
is  evident. 

TAthospil'i.  with  its  strigate,  dark,  pmoky,  blue-gray  primaries,  is 
unique  and  ssot  easily  mistakable.  T*^*  siansverse  maculation  is  prac- 
tically obsolete,  the  ordinary  spots  are  ;;  rely  traceable,  and  there  are 
no  obvious  streaks  or  dagger  marks.    Akn^jether  the  species  is  inter- 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCruWAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR.  71 

mediate  and  leads  toward  the  tritoruMjrisea  series  on  one  hand  and^ 
tdiii  on  the  other. 

Tritona,  revellafa,  grisea,  and  radcUffn  are  blue-gray  species  which 
l.iive  no  dagger  mark  opposite  the  cell;  but  do  have  such  a  mark 
crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  the  anal  angle.  Except 
yaiMiffei  these  species  are  allied  in  structure,  tritona  forming  the  inter- 
mediate type  to  the  typical  grisea  form.  Radelifei  in  structure  resem- 
l.'les  occidentalis  or  lohdiac,  but  differs  from  all  the  other  species  in  that 
series  by  its  very  even  gray  primaries,  on  which  the  markings  are  very 
neatly  defined,  the  dash  opposite  the  cell  being  entirely  absent  in  all 
the  specimens  seen  by  me. 

Tritona  is  very  dark,  the  tint  being  also  very  even.  The  transverse 
anterior  line  is  altogether  wanting,  but  the  transverse  posterior  is  dis- 
tinct, and  thejp.9«  mark  opposite  the  anal  angle  is  very  prominent. 

Rcvellata  and  grism  have  powdery  gray  primaries  and  almost  white 
secondaries.  The  maculation  is  well  written  in  both,  but  the  former  is 
larger,  a  little  darker,  yet  brighter  and  more  contrasting.  The  former 
occurs  in  the  Kocky  Mountains,  the  latter  is  northeastern. 

<Juadrata,falctaa,  and  parallela  resemble  grisea,  but  are  very  evenly 
colored,  and  the  black  line  opposite  anal  angle  does  not  cross  the 
transverse  posterior  line. 

Qxadrata  is  very  distinct,  and  recognizable  at  once  by  the  fact  that 
the  space  between  the  ordinary  spots  is  filled  by  a  somewhat  quadrate 
l)lack  spot.  The  species  is  quite  unique  in  this  respect,  but  while  the 
superficial  appearance  refers  tiie  si)ecies  here,  the  male  genitalia  are 
like  those  of  occidentalis,  and,  like  radclifei,  this  species  is  evidently  an 
offshoot  from  the  main  line  of  development. 

Falcula  and  paralMa  are  closely  allied  and  structurally  near  to 
(insca.  The  primaries  are  a  very  even  blue  gray,  darker  in  falcula,  and 
the  markings  are  very  neatly  defined.  In  falcila  the  base  is  shaded 
with  orange  interiorly,  and  there  is  a  distinct  orange  shade  beyond  the 
transverse  posterior  line.  In  parallela  tliese  shades  are  wanting  or  at 
most  very  feebly  indicated,  and  here  the  secondaries  are  white  in  both 
sexes,  while  in  falcula  those  of  the  female  at  least  are  distinctly  smoky. 
Mansueta  mid  funeral  is  have  in  common  only  the  black  shading  along 
the  inner  margin  of  the  primaries.  Omitting  this  black  shading,  man- 
■^i"ia  IS  intermediate  between  grisea  and  parallela,  and  so  the  male 
genitalia  refer  it. 

Fmieralis  is  uniciue  in  all  respects,  yet  when  the  wing  form  and  the 
markings  are  considered  closely  it  finds  its  nearest  allies  here.  The 
pecpharities  of  the  male  genitalia  have  been  already  referred  to. 
Above  the  middle  the  primaries  are  white,  mottled  with  bluish,  while 
the  black  shading  along  the  internal  margin  is  very  well  defined  and 
sends  up  a  distinct  spur  on  the  transverse  anterior  line. 

All  the  others  in  this  series  havethevestiture  more  or  less  roughened 
aud  the  scales  somewhat  elevated.    Almost  all  these  species  are  some- 


72 


PliOCEKDIXaS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol,.  XXI. 

what  aberrant,  not  very  nearly  related,  and  pointing  in  diffoT^^iTdh^. 
tions> 

Spinigera  &m\  pruni  are  most  nearly  allied  and  are  evident  offshoots 
from  the  typical  lobelia,  type,  which  they  resemble  in  macnlation  Z 
m  the  genitahc  strnt^ture  of  the  nnile.  The  rouj,^heninff  of  the  vestiture 
18  quite  evident  enough  to  separate  the  species  from  their  allies,  but  it 
.8  not  a  striking  feature,  and  serves  rather  f«  give  a  peculiar  softness 
and  mdeflniteness  to  the  ornamentation. 

Spinigera,  or  harveyana,  as  it  has  been  renamed,  is  somewhat  loss 
defirrT.'  •'^^'I'"!:^^"«^';"'d  ^'^^  '^"  the  dashes  slender  and  neatly 
defined     The  genitalia  of  the  male  are  of  the /oft.^m.  type,  but  show 
a  departiire  from  the  normal  in  the  development  of  a  knob  liLe  proces 
trom  the  inferior  margin. 

Pnmi,  which  is  generally  known  as  c/m^m..  in  collections,  is  smaller 
much  more  roughened  in  vestiture,  and  the  dashes  are  all  obscured  ,>; 
dittuse,  particular  y  that  opposite  the  anal  angle.    The  genitalia  of  tho 
male  difter  from  the  normal  lobeliae  type  in  that  both  angles  of  th 
scooplike  clasper  are  prolonged  into  finger-like  processes. 

nn7rT  i'  '^•1''*^  """^"^  "'  *'"'  '"'''^•'  *"  '^'  ^'^''^^'-^^  appearance,  yet 
on  close  study  it  is  apparent  that  we  may  have  here  an  extreme  dev  el- 
opment  of  the  tendency  started  in  the  preceding  species.  All  the 
markings  are  normally  present,  but  everything  is  obscured  by  the 
elevated,  rough  vestiture,  aided  by  a  general  blackish  suffusion  whi.h 
gives  the  primaries  a  marbled  appearance.  In  a  general  way  the 
ground  color  IS  gray,  but  there  is  a  broad  smoky  or  blackish  longL.li. 

of  the  wi^  ;  tT-^'  ''""  '"''  *^  ""*^^  "^'^^^^^  ^«J«-  the  center 
vertl  f  ^'  T  '!  ''  '^"''^  ^'^  '-'  ^^^''^^^  ^^°d  ^1^'«'>  ^^tends  trans- 
rrZurr  r'^  -r'  ^^^^"^  *'^  "^^•^'^^''^^-  ^»«ther  peculiarity 
8  a  patch  of  yellow  scales  at  the  extreme  base,  inferiorly,  that  co.^ 
t^ass  sharply  with  the  rest  of  the  wing.  The  claspers  of  the  male  a 
but  httle  different  from  those  of  lobeliae. 

Connecta  is  a  much  reduced  superans  in  maculation,  but  so  modified 
as  to  give  quite  a  different  first  impression.    The  ground  col  Has 
famt  reddish  shading;  the  longitudinal  black  shad' is  betteXflned 
t^nSZ    '"^'^,««°t^f«ting,  and  the  dusky  shade  from  the  costa  is 
more  diffuse  and  much  less  prominent.    The  relationship  to  alni  an, 
/^meral^s  is  evident,  as  is  that  to  grisea  through  uansLa.    In  th 
structure  of  the  male  claspers  we  have  a  very  interesting  intermedia  e 

on  the  one  hand  to  the  afflicta  form  on  another,  to  the  <,risea  type  in  the 
third,  and  even  he  form  of  the  aurieoma  group  could  be  easily  seuVe^^^ 
The  species  is,  therefore,  a  highly  important  and  interesting  one 

Brumosa  Guenee,  which  replaces  snbochrea  Grote,  is  an  extreme 
development  of  the  line  started  by  spinigera.    It  is  'very  dark  S 
gray  the  markings  obscure,  diffuse,  and  mottled,  and  the  seconda  Is 
smoky  luteous,  but  glistening.    In  well-marked  specimens  all  the  „ 


N.M140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAK—BMlTTr  AND  DTAR. 


73 


iiKMitatioj.  of  prvHi,  but  nuich  obscured,  iire  easily  traceabK  In  male 
jieiiital  structure  this  spocies  is  distinctly  nni(iuo,  and  wliiie  it  is 
evidently  a  loheliac  derivative,  becomes  an  easy  interjfrade  to  the 
(I  (II  iota  type. 

Of  the  European  species  known  to'  me,  pni,  tridens,  cmjm,  fitriqosa, 
and  ahu  belong  to  this  group.  All  of  these  save  Htru,om  have  been 
already  mentioned.  Of  these,  the  first  mentioned  three  belong  to  that 
small  series  of  which  lobHiae  is  typical.  All  have  the  dagger  opposite 
tlK'  cell  more  or  less  obvious  and  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line, 
and  all  have  the  ordinary  spots  more  or  less  distinctly  tied  by  a  black 
line  or  dash.  In  all  the  basal  dash  or  streak  is  distinct,  and  in  all  we 
liiid  well  marked  the  spur  from  the  inferior  margin,  which,  in  our  own 
spc'cies,  is  characteristic  of  the  fp-Mea  series.  The  structure  of  the 
male  genitalia,  has  been  already  referred  to,  and,  altogether,  while  at 
first  sight  there  may  seem  a  close  re8end)lance  between  these  Euro- 
l.(  iui  and  some  American  forms,  yet  they  are  really  (,uite  remote  from 
each  other.  Variation  has  been  much  greater  and  specialization  more 
active  in  America;  hence  our  species  have  diverged  more  and  in  a 
greater  imird)er  of  directions. 

In  its  pattern  of  maculatiou  alni  resembles  siipcram  and  conuecto  at 
least  as  much  as,  if  not  more  than,  it  does  our  funcralis.  It  has  not 
only  the  longitudinal  shade  of  supemm,  but  also  the  broad  shade 
bands  extending  from  the  costa  behind  the  orbicular  to  meet  it.  So 
the  vestiture  in  alni  is  much  more  roughened  than  it  is  in  the  American 
species,  and  in  this  particular  it  is  also  much  closer  to  our  conmcta. 

Ntrigosa  is  the  European  representative  of  our  contieeta,  bat  is  smaller 
more  slightly  built,  and  more  brightly  colored.    The  male  claspers  are 
those  ot  connecta,  but  on  a  much  smaller,  more  compact  plan,  and  much 
better  adapted  for  a  starting  point  to  our  group  havimndis  or  to  the 
group  aiirivoma. 


ACRONYCTA  INNOTATA  Guen6e. 
(Plates  II,  flgs.  17,  18,  adult;  XVII,  fig.  18,  leg;  XX,  fig. ;,,  „,al.,  g.-nitali; 


.) 


Aoronycia  inmtata  GuENiCnc,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852, 1,  p.  50.-Walkkic,  Cat  Brit 

Mh8.,  Hot.,  1851),  IX,  p.  59. 
ApaUhi  innolata  Gkote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  114. 
Diphthera  graeJH  Guote,  Proc.  Eiit.  Soc.  Pbila.,  1863,  II,  p.  68,  pi    in   fi.r  6  - 

MoKHisoN,  Can.  Ent.,  1875,  VII,  ]>.  79,  pr.  syn.  '  ' 

Ground  color  a  somewhat  dirty  yellowish  white.  Head  and  thorax 
without  distinct  markings,  except  a  black  line  from  the  sides  of  the 
palpi  to  the  base  of  the  wings.  Primaries  with  the  ordinary  lines 
traceable,  and  a  variously  distinct  basal  line,  marked  by  a  black  spot 
ou  the  costa.  Transverse  anterior  line  marked  by  a  black  spot  on  the 
costa.  Beyond  that  it  is  geminate,  neither  of  the  defining  lines  com- 
plete nor  always  well  marked  at  the  same  Doiuts.  As  a  wlmlA  tl.A  Unn 
IS  outwardly  oblique  and  rather  even.    Sometimes  it  is  reduced  to  the 


74 


VROCKEDINOS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOU  XXI. 


costal  spot,  to  a  dot  or  a  pair  of  dots  belo\r  the  cell  and  another  on  the 
internal  margin ;  oocttsionally  it  is  en  f  irely  wanting.    The  ine«iiau  shade 
is  indicated  by  a  black  spot  on  tlie  coHta  and  sometimes  a  shade  extends 
to  the  (ienter  of  the  reniforu!.    The  transverse  posterior  line  In  well 
marked,  in  most  specimens  continuous  or  nearly  so,  more  or  lessobvi 
ously  lunulared,  but  not  dentated  on  the  veins.     It  is  quite  squarel. 
bent  <mt  '.yor  thecei:  and  with  a  well  marked  incurve  opposite  the  iinal 
angle.    T^iere  i.i  ,    series  of  terminal  dots,  but  the  fringes  are  not  cut. 
There  is  no  longitudinal  line  at  base  and  tlie  orbicular  is  wanting  iti 
most  specimens.    Occasionally  it  is  marked  by  a  feeble  dot  and  some- 
times even  by  a  small  ring.    The  reniform  varies  from  a  distinct  black 
crescent  mark  to  a  vague  dusky  lunule.    Secondaries  white  in   the 
female,  with  a  more  or  '(=B.i  <.b.  uHts  discal  mark  and  an  outer  median 
line  which  is  sometimes  marked  in  the  middle    mi  the  veins.     In  botii 
sexes  there  is  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  marks.     iJeneath  there  is 
the  usual  outer  line  and  the  discal  lunule  on  both  wings. 
Expanse,  1.40  to  1.85  inches  (35  to  47  mm.).  * 

Habitat.— honAon,  Ontario,  June  2H;  Maine  in  June;  New  Hamp. 
shire;  Rochester,  Ithaca,  Long  Island,  New  York;  Pennsylvania. 

This  broad-winged  species  can  not  be  easily  mistaken.  Its  pale  colors 
and  simple  markings,  without  trace  of  black  dashes  or  dagger  marks, 
are  quite  characteristic.  It  varies  from  a  form  in  which  all  the  de- 
scribed markings  are  easily  distinguishable  to  one  in  which  nothing 
except  the  transverse  posterior  line  is  evident,  and  even  this  hardly 
black  marked.  It  is  rather  common  within  its  range,  which  seems  to 
be  not  very  extended,  and  thirty  or  forty  specimens  have  been  examined. 
The  head  is  very  distinct,  the  front  a  little  bulging,  the  palpi  well 
developed  and  reaching  the  middle  in  most  of  the  specimens.  The 
legs  are  stout  and  the  femur  is  quite  strongly  dilated  and  abruptly 
narrowed  at  the  tip.  The  tibia  is  slender,  the  epiphysis  inserted  at 
about  the  middle,  but  not  reaching  to  the  tip.  The  tarsus  is  long  in 
proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  leg.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  narrow 
and  subequal.  The  clasper  is  of  the  usual  form,  with  the  upper  finger 
stout  and  long,  while  the  process  from  the  upper  margin  is  short  and 
rather  slender. 

LARVA. 
BEUTENMt^LLKR,  Eot.  New8,  1«91,  II,  p.  153. 

Stage  FJ.— Head  pitchy  brown  on  the  vertices  of  the  lobes;  face  sordid 
white;  body  dull  grayish  brown;  warts  I  and  II  shining  black;  two 
rows  of  yellow  spots  along  each  side,  with  a  row  of  black  spots  [or 
tubercle  III?  J  between;  legsconcolorous;  secondary  hair  sparse,  sordid 
white;  venter  dull  grayish. 

Cocoon.— Of  bits  of  wood  rudely  united. 

Food  i)/a%<.— Probably  hickory  (after  Beuteumiiller). 


N<  1140.        NOBTH  AMMBJOJir  irOOTUJOAB^iMITB  4SD  DTAS. 


75 


ACRONYCTA  BETULAE  Riley. 

(I'l.iiKM  U,  ttg.  19,  wlnlt;  V,  flgn.  4, 5,  larva ;  XVI,  ««.»,  venation  ;  XVll.  rtg.  1»,  log; 
XVIII,  tig.  a,  palpus;  XX,  tig.  <i,  male  genitalia.) 

icronjicta  helulae  Kil.KY,  Hull,  likln.  Ent.  Soc,  1884,  VII,  p.  2,  flg.  1. 
Ijiatela  hetulae  Packahd,  KoieHt  IiiHectn,  1890,  p.  4f>r>,  fl^.  17fi. 
iljiboma  hetulae  GRctTK,  MItth.,  a.  d.  Hoem.  Muh.,  HildoHli.,  IWMi,  N<».  3,  p.  7. 

Ciiouiul  color  a  ratlier  i)alo  ocher  yellow,  shading  into  luteouH.  Head 
iiiid  thorax  even,  the  usnal  black  line  at  the  sides  of  the  i)al|»i  beeonnng 
brown;  primaries  with  the  ordinary  markings  very  little  <lef)ned  and 
never  contrasting.  The  basal  line  is  feebly  marked  on  the  costa,  or  is 
entirely  absent.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  geminate,  obli(iue, 
very  even  but  very  faintly  marked;  the  detining  lines  are  only  a  little 
darker  than  the  ground  color,  even  on  the  costa.  The  median  shade  is 
marked  by  an  oblique  dash  on  the  costa  extending  to  the  reniform,  and 
in  some  specimens  inwardly  bent  and  traceable  to  the  inner  margin  at 
its  middle.  In  most  specimens  this  shade  is  not  traceable  beyond  the 
c(»sta,  and  it  is  never  more  than  dusky  even  here.  The  transverse  pos- 
terior line  is  narrow,  rather  sharply  defined,  irregular,  distinctly  toothed 
on  veins  3  and  4,  and  with  a  sharp  inward  bend  in  thesubmedian  inter- 
space, forming  a  blunt  tooth.  Beyond  this  line  there  is  a  dusky  shade 
which  follows  what  would  ordinarily  be  the  subterminal  space  were  a 
subterminal  line  defined.  There  are  no  terminal  dots,  and  the  merest 
trace  of  a  terujinal  line  is  indicated  in  some  specimens.  There  is  no 
basal  dash ;  the  orbicular  is  absent  or  vaguely  defined.  The  renifiu'm 
varies  from  an  indefined  luiuile  to  a  large  reniform  spot,  and  is  of  a  lit- 
tle richer  biownish  color  than  the  ground.  Secondaries  of  a  i)aler 
sliade  of  luteous,  with  a  vaguely  indicated  discal  lunule  and  outer  line. 
On  the  under  side  we  have  the  same  general  color,  but  paler,  and  the 
usual  outer  line  ami  discal  spot.  The  outer  line  in  this  case  is  quite  dis- 
tinctly angulated  at  about  its  middle. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.48  inches  (35  to  37  mm.). 

llnhitat. — Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  March  and  August; 
bong  Island,  New  York;  Pennsylvania;  Missouri;  Jefferson,  New 
Hampshire, 

Twelve  specimens  have  been  examined  and  otfer  very  little  variation. 
It  is  simply  a  question  of  the  greater  or  less  distinctness  of  the  mark- 
ings. Its  nearest  ally  in  appearance  is  innotata ;  but  there  is  no  chance 
ol  mistaking  the  species.  In  structure  it  resembles  innotata  in  the 
trontal  characters  and  in  the  general  character  of  the  legs.  The  harpes 
ot  the  male  taper  quite  regularly  to  a  blunt  tip.  The  clasper,  while  of 
the  general  shape  of  innotata,  is  more  clumsy,  and  lacks  the  process 
from  the  superior  margin. 


76 


PnnCKEDISUH  OF  TltE  NATION  a  I,  MVaMUk. 


Vol.  XXI 


\m 


LARVA. 


KiLKY,  Mull.  Hkl„.  Ent.  8or.,  m\,  VII,  v.'2-Vkvkkru  Fifth  »     *   .r   m    . 
(loinin.,  IH!t(),  p.  l!).r,.  .  I    .«.     I  ArKARi),  Hfth  Kept.  U.  H.  Knt. 

1  *'T  ^,r-)^"l"'  "f  »"'»^«'»  1-'J^>  m.„.    Grom.;  the,  wartK  yellow     A 

.thorax      '><"HaIIyonjo.ntsr>,8,9,au(ll2,an<lfai.,tIyon  11  «„,, 
n>vvM  patches  s.nro.nul.d  with  y.Ih.vv,  „u,Ht  aistinct  oftlL  h'1 
Dorsal  ha.r  long,  dark,  a  c.,.tral  seta  with  a  crcwu  of  short  h  L     I 
each  wart.    Joints  5  and  12  slijjhtly  e.darged.  "'" 

maijv  I  .-Head  green,  with  purplish   niottlings  on   the   lobes    fl... 
ap...  pale  l.rown;  wi.lth,  2.2  mn..     B<uly  greenfthe  war  L^un lo  ' 
nu^  yellow  on  jo.nts  4  to  12,  yellow  elliptical  patches  covering  w  r  s 
and  II  on  joints  r>,  S,  J»,  a„d  12,  with  red  centers;  a  red  dot  o.f  jlint    , 
Only  a  trace  of  the  subdorsal  line  on  Joints  :/and  4     8ld n  ,1 

o  nts  4    r  7     '  •'"'"'^^'>:-^"  *'«t«  l>«eon.e  „.ore  numerous,  snuUl  , 
l<»nts  4  (.   ,,  large  on  8,  <>,  snuill  on  10,  11.    Dorsal  line  enlarL-ed  f 
.nclud.  tu ben.le  i  on  Joints  8  and  9,  I  and  ,1  on  Joints  5  Id  i^ 

,''\;  /.-Head  pale  brownish,  thickly  mottled  with  black  snots 
above,  the  ap.ces  of  the  lobes  orange;  width,  3  to  3.7  mm.     Idy T 
ovaceous  brown;  nunute    brownblack    skin   thorns  on   a  gre;  • 

1  at^  iVn  ''**'^*^':**''.«:"1  ^^*>r«'^%'  1-'  ««l»are.    Wartssmall,  few  haircl 

sh    i  .      r     '    '  •'  ^f  ^^"'^  '""•  ^"'•*'^«'««'  *»•«  "^''^^  ^vart   pale  gree  : 
.8h;  all  paleon  joint  13.    Hair  short,  black  and  white;  secondarvS 
present  only  subventrally,  but  rather  abundant  there,  pale         ^ 
Coeoon.-"  Web  up  in  a  piece  of  old  wood  or  between  leaves."    (Riley  ) 

ments  punctured  in    front;    smooth,  shining  brown,  the  wine  cas^s 
finely  tntnsyersely  wrinkled.    Cremaster  short,  nearly  s<  ssUe  sever^ 
ongitudmal  ridges  above  and  below  at  the  margin.    No  dor  al  hook 
he  lower  row  in  a  close  series  of  six,  corresponding  to  three  on  eth 
side,  but  not  separated.    Length,  17  mm.;  width,  8  mm. 
Food  ])lant.—E\Tc\i. 

ACRONYCTA  MORULA  Grote  and  Robinson. 
(PJates  II,  flg.  10,  adult;  VII,  iigs.  20,  21,  larva •  XIV  fiLrs  7  iq  +i  .       , 

Apatela  morula  Thaxter    P-milii.    i«sq    ttt'       <o      --, 

,,  /<7     r.        ^"'^•^^'^«'  lapiuo,  18«3,  III,  p.  13.— GuoTK,  Papilio   1883  III 
p.  67. -Packard,  Forest  Insects.  1890  p  272  '      ' 

Hyboma  morula  Guote,  Mittl..,  a.  d.  Roeni.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3  1896  p  7 

;"^r:p:tp";r  '"• '---'"  ^^^^  -  --«-«'  --'i^-^opte.. 

Ground  color !)  nnlo  n.«iini)  «....>,,  t..;^!-  -, -,-ii      •  r.  j.-  m 

has  tlifi  rii^i.  ,Uof    V,  ■'■  ■  M   "'"f '  yellowish  tinge.    The  thorax 

has  the  disk  distinctly  yellow,  the  collar  is  usually  brown-tipped,  and 


NO  mil         NOUTll  AMKHICAN  NUCTVIDAK— SMITH  ANlt  DYAU. 


77 


ept.  U.  8.  Knt. 


til)'  <(lK<fH  of  tho  pataglae  um  imnowly  black  inaiku«l.    Tlio  primariuw 
liavt^  all  the  iiiarkiiiKH  tracoablo  aixl  in  numt  iiiMtaiiceM  fairly  iliatincf, 
Tlic  bawal  liiu>  Ih  marked  by  jBremliiate  yellow  or  brown  inarku  on  tiio 
c.isia.    Transvemi  autiTior  line  K<'"iiiJute,  browiiinh  yt^llow,  as  a  whole 
oiitwanlly  oblique,  (|ulte  Htronjfly  toothed  on  the  Hubcostal  and  more 
(tr  less  <listinetly  out-bent  on  all  the  veinH.    The  tendency  ih  for  the  line 
to  become  faint  or  entirely  wantinjr  below  the  middle,  and  it  is  often 
indistinct,  even  in  the  Ji|)|)er  part  of  its  conr«e.    The  median  shade 
is  marked  by  a  rather  dellned  yell<»w  or  brown  line  from  the  coHta 
oblif|iiely  to  the  reniform,  and  oceawionally  there  Ih  a  very  even  Hhading 
wliich  extends  ahnost  or  <iuite  to  the  inner  margin.    The  transverse 
posterior  line  is  narrow,  brown  or  black,  distinctly  defined,  preceded 
by  ji  paler  and  followed  by  a  darker  brownish  or  yellow  shading.    Tho 
line  is  rather  even,  most  sharply  toothed  on  veins  ;{  and  1,  below  which 
it  makes  a  deep  incurvf?  opposite  tho  anal  angle.    There  is  an  indistinct 
but  traceable  subterminal  line  in  most  of  the  specimens  which  is  irreg- 
ular and  paler.    The  fringes  are  cut  with  brown  or  black  opposite  the 
interspaces.    There  is  a  distinct  basal  dash  which  is  black  and  extends 
through  the  basal  line.    There  is  a  dark  dash  opposite  the  cell,  which 
extends  from  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  outer  margin  and 
sometimes  crosses  the  lino  inwardly.    Another  dash  opposite  the  anal 
iinolc  extends  from  the  margin  through  the  transverse  posterior  line, 
forming  a  distinct  /»si,  which  is  shaded  with  blackish  and  quite  i)romi- 
nent.    The  orbicular  is  small, round,  ringed  with  brown,  yellow, or  black. 
Tho  reniform  is  large,  kidney  shaped,  somewhat  indetined,  except  at  its 
inner  edge,  where  it  is  black  marked.    As  a  whole  it  is  shaded  with 
yellowish.    The  secondaries  are  smoky,  darker  in  the  female,  and  with 
a  more  or  less  obvious  disoal  spot  and  outer  line.     Beneath  the  color 
is  yellowish  white,  powdery,  and  on  both  wings,  with  an  incomplete 
outer  band  and  a  rather  distinct  discal  spot. 

Mxpanse,  l.GO  to  2  inches  (40  to  50  mm,). 

//«i;jia<.— Ontario,  Canada;  Rochester,  New  York;  Kendall  New 
York;  Long  Island,  New  York;  Otto,New  York,  July;  Evans  Center, 
New  York,  July;  Wisconsin;  Central  Missouri  in  May;  Washington, 
Districtof  Columbia,  in  August;  Maine;  Illinois;  Pennsylvania;  Texas 
in  June. 

I  n  a  general  way  this  insect  occurs  west  to  the  Eocky  Mountains  from 
Canada  southward.  Some  twenty-odd  specimens  of  each  sex  have  been 
examined  and  very  little  variation  occurs.  Some  specimens  are  a  little 
paler,  some  a  little  darker;  some  of  them  are  a  little  brighter  marked 
tliaii  others;  but  on  the  whole  the  species  is  remarkably  constant  and 
is  always  easily  recognized  by  the  yellowish  shading  in  the  fore  wings 
and  by  the  yellow  disk  of  the  thorax.  It  is  also  the  largest  species  next 
to  lobcUae  with  which  it  can  not  be  easily  confused.  The  front  is  bulg- 
ing but  hardly  protuberant.  The  anterior  legs  are  well  developed,  all 
the  parts  beinir  wpill  nrnnnrfimiorl  i-n  oooi.  ixf],{yr-.  +\,^  ,^..j,,i,— „:~  -x?  ^i.  _ 

fore  tibia  is  inserted  much  nearer  to  the  base  and  does  not  reach  to  the 


-;    i!| 


78 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


w 


VOL.  XXI, 

tip.  The  harpes  narrow  quite  abruptly  before  the  tip,  tl^ndilate~prin^ 
cipally  on  the  lower  margin,  before  termiuating  in  au  obliquely  rounded 
tip.  The  clasper  is  well  developed,  not  very  broad,  the  finger  long  and 
stout,  a  httle  excavated  within,  while  there  is  a  short  angular  process 
from  the  upper  margiu,  which  can  hardly  be  called  flnger-like. 

LARVA. 

Hahris,  E„t.  Corr.    1869,  p.  312,  pi.  ,„,  fig.  10._T„axtku,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p 
3-Packaud,  Fiftb   Kept.  IJ.  S.  Ent.  Comm.,  1890,  p.   272;  Ibid     p    'm 

Uggs.—^i  Very  small,  much  flattened,  whitish."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  /.-"Dirty  greenish  white,  without  marks;  a  few  white  hairs- 

a  subdorsal  row,  black ;  head  tinged  with  brown"  (Thaxter).    Width  of 

head,  probably  0.3  mm. 

Stage  //.-Head  whitish,  not  shining,  no  marks;  width,  0.4  mm  • 
body  pale  green,  with  indications  of  a  whitish  subdorsal  line-  warts 
conic,  with  a  long  central  seta  and  caown  of  short  hairs,  a  few  glandular 
tipped,  part  light,  part  dark,  some  of  the  small  ones  black;  on  joint  1' 
tubercles  I  and  II  form  a  square,  IV  with  only  one  seta,  VI  present" 
the  warts  much  in  line  transversely;  leg  plates  a  little  yellowish,  witli 
several  pale  setae.  Of  the  four  setae  on  the  cervical  shield,  only  the 
posterior  lower  one  is  supplemented  by  short  hairs  and  elongated  into 
a  wart,  but  there  is  a  row  of  little  hairs  along  the  front  edge  of  the 
Shield.    No  secondary  hairs  on  the  body  as  yet. 

Stage  III.-Head,  0.7  mm;  as  before,  brighter  green ;  the  pale,  whit- 
ish  subdorsal  line  more  distinct,  continuous;  hair  dark  dorsally,  pale 
subventrally.  Later  there  is  a  pale  brown  dorsal  shading  on  joints  2 
o,  anci  ±2.  ' 

Stage  I V.-Hend,  whitish  green,  bilobed,  the  apices  pointed;  a  small 
patch  of  brown  mottlin-s  in  front,  below  the  apex  of  each  lobe;  width 

io  T];  ,.^^  P*"''  ""^'^^^^aJ  li"«  faint,  yellowish;  joints  5,  8,  and 
12  shadod  dorsally  with  dark  brown;  hair  long  and  white.  There  are 
a  few  shoxt  secondary  hairs;  but  on  the  dark  patches  inclosed  by  tuber- 
cles I  and  II  on  joints  5,  8,  and  12  they  are  more  numerous,  black,  with 
enlarged  ends;  subventrally  only  a  few,  and  these  white.  The  longer 
dorsal  primary  hairs  are  black. 

,  ^^^T,,^—^^'**^  bilobed,  pale  green,  covered  over  the  apex  of  each 
lobe  with  a  large  patch  of  spots  composed  of  brown  and  black  dots  on 
a  pale  whitish  ground,  the  patch  reaching  to  the  ocelli;  apices  of  lobes 
brown;  ocelli  black;  width,  1.8  mm.  Body  green,  a  raised  brown  area 
dorsally  on  joints  5,  8,  and  12,  surrounded  by  a  yellow  ring,  the  one  on 
8  passing  also  on  to  9.  Warts  small,  bearing  two  to  four  short  black 
iiairs  on  1  to  III  on  abdomen;  larger  more  numerous  on  warts  IV  to 
^  I,  IV  small,  behind  the  spiracle.  Secondary  hairs  re,,rescnted  by 
minute  pile,  most  distinct  in  the  elevated  dorsal  patches.  Tubercles  on 
the  edge  of  the  cervical  shield  blackish,  warts  yellowish 


1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


79 


Stage  F/,— Ae  before,  the  dorsal  patches  darker,  blackisli  brown,  the 
yellow  borders  narrow  and  dull.  Tubercles  I  and  II  surrounded  bv 
black.    Width  of  head,  2.8  mm. 

Stage  Fr/.— Head  large,  held  out  Hat,  the  sutures  deepj  black,  sha- 
oreened,  apices  of  lobes  tipped  with  red;  clypeus  with  sutures  broadly 
oKienish  white;  width,  4  to  4.5  mm.  Body  light  olive  gray,  a  lozenge- 
shaped  dorsal  enlargement  on  joints  6,  8,  and  12,  bearing  tubercles  I 
at  the  corners,  darker  than  the  body  and  bordered  with  black.  A 
dorsal  gray  band,  whitish  centrally,  enlarged  on  each  segment  to  include 
tubercle  II.  Lateral  region  irregularly  shaded  with  gray.  A  lateral 
brown  band,  defined  by  blackish  marks  stigmatally.  Hair  thin,  white, 
^ery  scant,  almost  absent  dorsally,  longer  subventrally.  Secondary 
hairs  numerous,  short,  the  dorsal  ones  flattened,  the  subventral  ones 
long  and  normal.  Warts  normal,  rather  small,  with  few  to  several 
hairs,  those  on  the  sides  whitish. 

ajcoon.— "Spun  under  loose  bark  or  in  the  crevices"  (Thaxter)- 
"tough"  (Riley).  ' 

Food  plants.— ^\m^  apple,  linden. 


ACRONYCTA  OCCIDENTALIS  Grote  and  Robinson. 
(Plates  II,  fig.  8,  adult;  V,  figs.  7,  8,  larra;  XX,  fig.  8,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronycta  occidentalia  Grote  and  Robinson,  Proc,  Ent.  Soc.  Phila.,  1866  VI 
p.  16.— Speyer,  Stett.  Eut.  Zeit.,  1875,  XXXVI,  p.  108.  '  '       ' 

Apaiela  oocidentalis  Grote,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  1876,  XI,  p.  302;  Papilio, 
1883,  III,  p.  67.— Packard,  Forest  Insects,  1890,  p.  167. 

Hijhoma  ocoidentalis  Grote,  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3,  1896,  p  7 

Acroni/cta  pai  GuenI^.e,  Spec.  Gen.  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  43.-\VALKER,'cat.'Brit! 
Mas.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  42.— Grot?:  and  Robinson,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Phila 
1866,  VI,  p.  16,  pr.  syn.  '' 

Acronycta  inierrupta  Guknee,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  46.— Walker,  Cat. 
Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  55.— Grote,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873  I 
p.  78.— Smith,  Bull.  44,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  1893,  p.  46. 

Orouud  color  ashen  gray  and  quite  even,  sometimes  with  a  faint  yel- 
lowish shading.  Head  and  thorax  immaculate,  except  for  the  line 
extending  from  the  sides  of  the  palpi  to  the  base  of  the  wing.  Prima- 
ries with  the  ordinary  markings  fairly  well  defined.  The  basal  line  is 
marked  by  geminate  black  lines  on  the  costa.  The  transverse  anterior 
line  is  geminate,  black  on  the  costa,  becoming  broken  and  less  defined 
toward  the  inner  margin,  which  is  reached  just  a  little  within  the  middle. 
As  a  whole  the  line  is  even  and  outwardly  oblique.  The  median  shad© 
is  marked  by  an  oblique  blackish  line  from  the  costa  to  the  reuiform,  of 
wiiich  it  darkens  the  outer  margin.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is 
somewhat  indistinctly  geminate,  the  outer  portion  being  narrow  and 
black,  a  little  lunulate,  the  inner  portion  being  hardly  distinct  and 
principally  evident  by  the  somewhat  paler  included  space.  There  is  a 
very  vaguely  defined  pale  subterminal  line,  which  is  irregular  in  course 
and  hardly  traceable  m  most  spccimciit'     The  basai  dash  is  black  and 


80 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 

distinct,  crossing  to  the  outer  portion  of  the  trans versTanterior  lin^ 
and  sometimes  extending  even  a  little  beyond  it.    There  is  a  black  dash' 
which  crosses  the  transverse  anterior  line  opposite  the  cell,  and  another 
which  crosses  it  opposite  tlie  anal  angle.    This  latter  is  much  the  heav- 
ier, and  is  usually  accompanied  by  a  dusky  suffusion,  which  makes 
this  part  of  the  wing  most  prominent.    The  orbicular  is  round,  black 
or  brown  ringed,  fairly  well  defined.    The  reniform  is  kidney  shaped 
foirly  well  defined  inwardly,  and  sometimes  complete.    It  is  a  little' 
marked  with  yellowish  in  some  specimens.    There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black  on  the  inter 
spaces.    The  secondaries  are  smoky  in  the  female,  distinctly  paler  and 
more  whitish  in  the  male.    Beneath,  powdery  pale  gray,  with  a  quite 
obvious  outer  line  and  a  more  or  less  evident  discal  spot. 
Expanse,  1.40  to  1.68  inches  (35  to  42  mm.). 

Hahitat.—OuUvio,  Canada;  Schenectady,  New  York,  in  July;  Ken- 
dall, Rochester,  and  Long  Island,  New  York:  Maine;  New  Hampshire- 
Pennsylvania;  Geori;ia;  West  Point,  Nebraska,  in  June;  Washington' 
District  of  Columbia,  in  May;  New  Jersey  in  June.  ' 

This  is  one  of  the  most  common  species  in  this  group,  and  probably 
extends  throughout  the  Eastern  United  States.    In  fact,  I  have  seen  it 
from  most  of  the  States,  although  I  do  not  at  the  present  time  have 
specimens  before  me.     In  my  catalogue  I  have  it  recorded  from  Illinois 
111  August,  and  in  the  Harris  collection,  Massa<;husetts,  are  specimens 
dated  April  25,  May  25,  and  June  1.    It  is  recorded  in  Canada  from 
May  to  August,  and  in  New  York  to  September.    The  species  varies 
little  and  is  unite  easily  distinguished.    It  differs  from  morula  in  its 
smaller  size  and  by  the  lack  olthe  yellow  in  the  thorax  and  primaries 
From  hmta  and  its  allies  it  differs  by  lacking  a  black  connecting  dasl. 
between  the  ordinary  spots.    There  is  little  variation,  except  in  tlie 
relative  distinctness  of  the  markings.    The  front  is  moderate,  convex 
but  hardly  bulging.    The  anterior  legs  of  the  male  liave  the  femur 
quite  stout,  the  tibia  and  tarsi  (pite  long,  and  slender  in  proportion 
The  epiphysis  is  attached  above  the  middle  and  does  not  reach  to  the 
tip.    The  hari>6s  of  the  male  are  a  little  narrowed  just  above  the 
clasper,and  widen  slightlyjust  before  the  rounded  tip."  The  clasper  is 
moderately  developed,  the  finger  quite  strongly  curved  and  not  very 
long.    There  is  the  merest  projection  from  the  upper  margin  to  indicate 
the  presence  of  an  additional  process. 

LARVA. 

GtTENKE,  Spec.  Gen.  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  4fi  (Merr„i,ta).-Wxums,  Ent.  Corr    1860 
p.  311  (sagHtaria).-iiKvmmxxH,  Can.  Eut.,  1872,  IV,  p.  49  {occidentaUa).'-^ 

P      r''';ir",";  "'''*•  ^^'-  ^"•'  ^^^^'  ^^'"^'  P-  129-EnwAKDs  and  Elliot, 

api  10, 1883,  in,  p.  1.^2.-,Saunders,  Ins.  In.j.  Fruits,  1883,  p.  1(5o.-Dimmock, 

I  sycbe,  1885,  IV,  p.  274.-Packakd,  Fifth  Rep.  U.  S.  Ent.  Conmi.,  1890,  p.l67. 

Stage  nL—lleaa  white,  the  lobes  pointed;   a  black  patch  at  the 

vertex,  one  on  each  side  of  the  c.lypeu.s  ji,,d  one  over  the  eyc^  width, 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  D TAR.  % \ 

(>.!»  mm.  Body  white,  warts  I  to  HI  bladc^W^reTt^jale^^.^^^S^^ 
with  a  crown  of  liairs;  all  the  body  thickly  covered  witli  short  second- 
aiy  hairs  enlarged  ai  the  tips.  Tubercles  I  and  11  on  joi.it  12  form  a 
s.iuare.  Dorsum  broadly  streaked  with  dark  brown,  cut  by  dorsal  and 
subdorsal  white  lines.  Hair  black  and  white,  even  some  of  the  second 
ary  ones  black.  Warts  normal,  IV  rather  small,  all  nearly  in  a  sinde 
transverse  line.  ^ 

Stage  JF.-Head  black,  a  geminate  white  spot  at  apex  of  clypeus 
and  white  streaks  on  the  sides;  apices  of  lobes  pointed,  pale  brown: 
wul  h,  1.4  mm.  Body  whitish  as  before;  dorsal  and  subdorsal  lines 
wlute,  distinct ;  sides  shaded  with  brownish,  joint  13  pale.  Secondary 
liairs  short,  club-shaped.  Tubercles  actually  pale,  but  more  or  less 
<losely  ringed  with  dusky  brown.  Later  a  broad  faint  reddish  patch 
covers  tubercles  I,  11  on  joints  of  abdomen. 

Stage  F.-Head  bilobed,  black,  dark  red  on  the  apices  of  the  lobes- 
Width  2.6  mm.  Body  dull  purplish,  dorsal  line  pale,  shading  into 
nddish  m  the  center  of  each  segment  around  tubercles  I  and  II-  sub- 
dorsal space  purple;  subdorsal  line  white,  bordered  below  with  purple- 
a  famt  reddish  stigmatal  line.  Warts  black,  I  and  II  containing  pale 
rings,  joint  12  nearly  all  black  dorsally.  Thoracic  feet  and  leg  plates 
black.  Hair  black  dorsally,  white  subventrally,  the  secondary  ones 
much  reduced,  short,  fine,  black,  not  evident  with  a  lens,  pointed  tipped 
...i.nerous,  but  long  and  white  subventrally.  Cervical  shield  black' 
tubercles  pale.  ' 

Stage  FJ.-Head  large,  slightly  bilobed;  median  suture  deep  before 
the  vertex,  but  shallow  behind;  Hat  in  front;  blackish  mahogany  red 
shilling,  darker  below;  clypeus  black,  with  the  sutures  purplish;  sides 
posteriorly  n.ottled  with  pale;  width,  3.5  to  3.8  mm.    Body  purplish  or 
flesh  coh.r,  of  even  width,  joint  12  enlarged  dorsally  in  a  rounded  quad- 
rate  elevation  which  bears  tubercles  I  and  II  on  the  corners  and  pul- 
sates centrally.    Warts  slight,  consisting  of  an  aggregation  of  three 
to  ten  pih  erous  tubercles  with  a  slightly  enlarged  common  base;  IV 
rather  small.    Hair  thin,  long,  reddish,  with  a  few  short,  pale  secondary 
oiies  subventrally,  but  the  secondary  coating  in  general  nearly  absent. 
The  lilac  color  of  the  body  shades  into  blackish  subventrally.    Dor- 
sally  a  broad  blackish  band,  marked  with  a  series  of  black  patches  on 
J..ints  o  to  11,  each  throwing  out  a  lateral  spur  whici"  curves  around 
wart  II  and  containing  the  pale  tubeicles  I  and  two  red  spots  situated 
in  the  dorsal  line.    Sometimes  the  red  spots  are  connected  into  a  single 
.nmglass-shaped  spot.     The  hump  on  joint  12  is  uniformly  black, 
l.ibercle  I  shining  blue-black  at  base;  II  in  a  small  yellowish  white 
piitch.    A  iaint  lateral  black  line  above  tubercle  III.     Spiracles  black 
With  white  center.    Length,  25  mm. 

rocoon.—A  thin  web  spun  in  the  earth  or  "covered  with  a  leaf " 
(Harris.) 

Pupa—Usht  brown, abdomen  tapering,  the  segments  rather  noiir««lv 
n-oc.  JJN.  M.  vol.  xxi ^  '' 


ifeM 


82 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


but  indistinctly  punctured  anteriorly;  wing  cases  grooved  and  slm- 
greened.  Cremaster  vride,  short,  ending  in  a  transverse  rim  which  beai  .s 
three  ridges  below  and  about  eight  above,  somewhat  curved  and 
irregular.  Terminally  three  long  spines,  slightly  hooked,  on  one  side 
of  the  cremaster,  on  the  other  side  nothing.  Length,  14  mm.  (only  one 
specimen). 
Foodplants. — Elm,  apple,  sugar  plum,  beach  plnm,  birch. 


ACRONYCTA  LOBELIAE  Guen€e. 

(Plates  11,  fig.  11, adult;   VII,  fig. 24, larva;   XVII,  fig, 22, leg;  XX,  ligs.  10, 11,  male 

genitalia.) 

Acronycta  loheliae  GUENi^E,  Spoc.  Gen.Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  44.— Walker,  Cat.  Brit. 

Mu8.,  llet.,  1856,  IX,p.54. 
Apatela  loheliae  Gkote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68. — rACKAKD,  Forest  Insects,  1890,  \). 

168. 
Ilyhoma  loheliae  Gkotk,  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Ilildesh.,  No.  3, 18S(6,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  whitish  ashen  gray,  with  a  vague  yellowish  tinge 
throughout.  Head  and  thorax  without  n)arkings,  save  the  usual  black 
line  from  the  j)alpi  to  the  base  of  the  wings,  which  extends  a  little  on 
the  thorax  in  this  case,  and  is  somewhat  connected  by  a  more  or  less 
evident  line  across  the  front  of  the  head.  The  primaries  have  all  the 
ordinary  markings  very  distinct.  Basal  line  geminate;  well  marked 
on  the  costa.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  well  marked  on  costa, 
but  more  feeble  beyond  that  point  and  in  rare  cases  entirely  wanting. 
As  a  whole  it  is  quite  even  and  outwardly  oblique.  The  median  Hue 
is  marked  on  the  costa  by  an  oblique  shade,  which  reaches  to  and  a 
little  darkens  the  center  of  the  reniform.  The  transverse  posterior  line 
is  lunulate,  continuous,  strongly  outcurved  over  the  cell  and  incurved 
beneath.  The  black  lunule  is  preceded  by  a  distinct  whitish  shade, 
which  renders  the  line  decidedly  more  prominent.  The  subterminal 
line  is  i)ale,  more  or  less  incomplete,  not  defined,  and  in  some  cases 
almost  at  the  base  of  the  fringes.  There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal 
dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black.  In  well-preserved 
specimens  it  is  seen  that  the  fringes  are  also  interlined.  The  basal 
black  streak  is  very  heavy  and  i)rominent,  extends  clean  across  the 
transverse  anterior  line,  and  usually  a  little  into  the  median  space.  lu 
many  specimens  the  internal  vein  is  well  marked  with  black  through 
nearly  the  entire  median  space.  There  is  a  distinct  dagger  mark  oppo- 
site the  cell,  which  usually  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line,  and 
there  is  another  much  heavier  dash  which  crosses  the  line  in  the  sub- 
median  interspace.  The  ordinary  spots  are  well  marked  and  of  the 
ground  color.  The  orbicular  is  round  or  nearly  so,  well  defined  inferi- 
orly,  but  usually  not  complete  above.  The  reniform  is  large,  kidney 
shaped,  well  marked  interiorly,  but  rarely  complete  outwardly.  A  dis- 
tinct black  line  connects  the  two  spots  along  tlie  lower  margin, 
Secondaries  smoky,  sometimes  considerably  i)aler  in  the  male.    Beneath 


VOL.  XXI. 


""  "^°- ^01tTnAMmiC.lN  NOCTVIDAK-SMITH  AND  DYAR.  83 

wl.itish,  powdery,  the  tips  of  the  wing8^8omet7me7alitti;^^kTr^ 
wings  witb  a  more  or  less  distinc^t  outer  line  and  discal  spot 
P.xpaiisf;,  1.80  to  2.40  inches  (45  to  (>0  mm  )  ' 

Hahitaf.-Fvora  Canada  to  Florida  and  Texas,  west  to  the  Rocky 
Mountai...     Texas,  in  March,  April,  and  May;   Illinois,  April,  Ma/ 
andJul:  1,^  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  April/  New    ersey,' 
.n  Junr  and  August;  Evans  Center,  New  York,  in  JunL  Mi.nesotl 
.u  Aur  ust;  Douglas  County,  Kansas;  Louisiana,  in  April 
Ihu  18  as  large  as  morula,  and  one  of  the  most  common  species  in 
ns  series.    It  is  as  a  rule  easily  recognized  by  the  large  size  and  by 
tb.  very  prominent  contrasting  black  dashes,  which  are  better  marked 
tl.an  m  any  other  species.    There  is  considerable  variation  in  size  ai!d 
considemble  variation  also  in  the  color  of  the  hind  wings,  especiaUy  of 
the  males.    It  has  been  impossible,  however,  for  me  to  separate  «fen 
in  ,>  species  on  any  tangible  character,  and  I  have  been  compelled    o 
old  them  together.     Ordinarily  the  very  heavy  black  marVi  fg      om 
bmed  with  the  dark  under  wings  and  quite  pale  gray  prim aifes  wHI 
be  sufticient  to  recognize  the  species.    The  head  is  .p^e  dist  net  ^e 
lont  bulging  and  a  little  prominent.    The  legs  are  well  developed,  tt 
enuir  being  very  stout  at  the  base  and  somewhat  abruptly  nlrrowed 
toward  the  tip.    The  tibia  has  the  epiphysis  attached  cpiite  clos^to 
be  base  and  not  extending  much  beyond  the  middle.    The  harpes  of 
be  male  are  narrow,  bluntly  rounded  at  the  tip,  sometimes  a  httle 
broader  just  be  ore.    The  clasper  is  well  developed,  the  superior   no 
cess  curved  and  moderately  long,  a  distinct  linger-like  process  of  good 
length  from  the  upper  margin  near  the  base  of  the  clasper.    The  spe 
ces  IS  well  represented  in  all  the  collections  before  me  and  a  verv 
large  series  ot  both  sexes  has  been  under  examination. 

LARVA. 

(;uEN.::,.:,,Spo..Gen,Noct.,  1852,I,p.44.-CoQuiLLETT,PapiIio  1881   I   „    ii 
PACKAii.,,  Fifth  Report  U.  S.  Ent.  Coiun,,  ISiK),  p.  ^68  '  ^' 

%y  Circular,  about  45  ribbed,  of  the  shape  of  a  segment  of  a 
Jl  .ere  iattened.  Pibs  free  at  ends,  not  diminishing  iu  nunri  till  one 
t  ud  tbe  distance  to  apex,  when  the  alternate  ones  terminate-  the 
^^Tt  ";;l^""^f  ^'  ^"'f  ,  ^^^«""d  '^-  -i^ropyle,  which  is  reticu/ated, 
"t'f  in  the  center.  Kidges  wavy;  the  grooves  between  likewise 
«aA'ed;  no  cross  striae.    Diamet.. .     mm.;  height,  0.3  mm 

./«Y/e  /.-Whitish,  a  large  purple-brosvn  dorsal  spot  on  joints  2,  4,  5 

i    dT>  le  with  r  -"^  '"  ''  ''''  ^°^'  ^^'^^^'  ^^^^^"^  i"  clistinctness: 
ii  ad  pale,  with  a  similar  spot  on  each  lobe;  width,  0.3  mm.    Tubercles 

large  in  the  davi..  marks,  smaller  elsewhere,  and  ^oncolorous  noTmaT 

sin,  chaired,  the  hairs  of  I  to  IV  black,  V  white,  a  smaH  wh   e Teta 

::  r  if r  vi^"  ^^^^-^-^  ''^'^  '-'^  "^^  ^^^^^  "^  -^^^  -A:t 

i  ^  wown  spoi,  above  and  two  below  on  the 


84 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


face  of  each  lobe ;  width,  0.4  mm.  Body  white,  the  dorsum  dark  purple 
brown  on  Joints  2,  4-5,  8-9,  and  12,  the  spot  on  joint  2  double.  Warts 
conic,  with  a  crown  of  glandular-tipped  hairs  and  central  long  seta,  two 
setae  on  wart  I;  I  to  III  black.  Secondary  hairs  black  in  the  dark 
spots,  white  on  the  white  ground ;  hairs  of  wart  VI  pale,  imt  glandular. 
Later  the  spots  on  the  head  become  conHuent  behind,  leaving  the  points 
of  the  lobes  marked  by  white.  The  green  food  contrasts  with  dorsal 
patches  on  the  pale  segments. 

titage  III. — Head,  0.8  mm. ;  white,  with  four  brown-black  spots  in  front 
and  a  streak  on  the  neck.  Brown  dorsal  patches  on  the  body  connected 
by  a  faint  subdorsal  line  inclosing  white  patches  on  tlie  pale  segments, 
greenish  in  the  incisures.  Sides  whitish.  Warts  as  before,  some  gland 
ular  secondary  hairs  also  arising  from  the  skin. 

Stage  IF.— Head  square,  bilobed,  apices  reddish,  ground  whitish, 
four  large  black  spots  in  front,  and  mottlings  on  the  sides ;  width,  l.o  nun. 
Body  whitish,  dorsum  above  wart  III  all  shaded  with  dark  brown, 
heaviest  on  joints  2,  4-5,  8-9,  and  12,  the  other  segmeuts  yellow.  A 
broken  pale  dorsal  line.  Hair  black  dorsally,  white  subventrally,  the 
short  secondary  hairs  on  both  tlie  low  conic  warts  and  body  glandular 
tipped  and  concolorous  with  the  markings.  Later  the  dorsum  becomes 
more  brownish,  leaving,  besides  pale,  broken  dorsal  and  subdorsal  line, 
yellow  patches  around  wart  I  on  joints  3,  6,  7,  10,  11,  and  13. 

Stage  Y. — Head  large,  bilobed,  narrowing  above;  ground  color  white, 
thickly  mottled  with  black  patches,  apices  of  lobes  red;  width,  2.2  min. 
Body  gray,  dotted  with  black;  a  whitish  dorsal  and  subdorsal  line; 
tubercles  I  to  HI  Avhitish,  with  two  or  three  black  hairs,  IV  very  small, 
V  and  VI  with  abundant  soft  white  hairs;  I  and  II  in  a  Sipiare  on 
joint  12.  A  tiny  black  dot  before  tubercle  I  and  a  reddish  shade 
between  I  and  II. 

Stage  F/.— Head  as  before;  width,  3.5  mm.  Body  gray,  with  very 
faint  grayish-white  dorsal  and  subdorsal  lines.  Hairs  from  small, 
nearly  concolorous  warts,  I  to  HI  with  a  few  black  hairs,  IV  obscure; 
abundant  fine  whitish  hair  subventrally,  mostly  secondary.  Skin 
above  with  fine  black  points.  Small  orange-yellow  spots  between 
tubercles  I  and  11  on  joints  5  to  11.  Spira(!le8  black  ringed.  Later 
bluish  gray,  a  yellowish -gray  diamond-shaped  patch  on  joints  5  to  i'J; 
those  on  joints  5  and  12  shaded  with  blackish.  This  marking  only 
appears  when  the  larva  is  full  fed. 

Stage  VII. — No  change  whatever;  width  of  head,  4.4  mm. 
Stage  VIII. — As  before,  till  near  the  end  of  the  stage,  which  lasts 
eleven  days.  Width  of  head,  5.7  mm.  On  leaving  the  ])lant  the  larv;i 
changes  color.  The  head  is  large,  scarcely  bilobed,  shagreened;  black 
above,  obscuring  the  red  apices,  a  broad,  shaded  grayish-white  baixl 
transversely,  festooned  up  over  the  ciypeus;  dypeus  gray;  mouth 
black.  Body  appearing  a  little  flattened,  slaty  gray,  a  greenish-white 
dorsal  and  subdorsal  line  and  diffuse  lateral  and  substignuitul  patches. 


(I'hites  II,  iig. 


NO  1140.        ^'>R^  A MERICA  N  NOCTVIDA  E-SMITH  AND  D  TAB.  86 

Warts  small,  several  haired;  hairs  short  and  bljick^orTtuberclesTti 
111,  white  subventrally,  both  secondary  and  from  tubercles  V  and  VI 
Dorsum  thickly  covered  with  black  points.    A  diffuse  yellow  patch 
l)Ho\v  warts  I  and  II  and  around  III.    Joint  12  slightly  enlarged  dor- 
sally.    A  few  long  black  hairs  at  the  extremities. 

r«co«//.--Single,  but  firm  and  tough,  composed  of  silk  and  bits  of 
wood  bitten  off;  a  considerable  portion  formed  by  the  supporting  wood 

/'»F'.-Brown,  shining,  gently  tapering,  the  abdominal  segments 
punctured  all  over,  the  punctures  extending  back  to  the  finely  sha- 
gieened  incisures;  wing  cases  grooved  and  transversely  wrinkled 
Civmaster  short,  subconic,  with  large  longitudinal  wrinkles.  Upper 
Look  one;  lower,  three  on  each  side,  regularly  spaced:  all  large,  with 
recurved  tii)S.  ' 

Food  plant — Oak. 

ACRONYCTA  FURCIFERA  Guenee. 

(I'lates  II,  fig.  13,  male;  flgs.  14,  13,  female  adult;  VI,  tig.  10,  larva;  XVIII,  fig  30 

leg;  XX,  lig,  12,  male  genitalia.)  ' 

Acronyctafurdfeva  (Juknioe,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  44.-Walkeu,  Cat.  Brit 

Mus.,  Ilet.,  18o(),  IX,  p.  54. 
Apatda  furcifera  Gkotk,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p,  68. 
Apatehi  lobeliav  \  Frknch,  Can.  Ent.,  1886,  X  VIIlj  p.  118. 

(Iround  color  dark  bluish  ash  gray,  quite  heavily  powdered  and  with 
^  «<^me^vhat  smoky  sutiusion.     Head  and  thorax  witiiout  markings 
except  for  the  usual  lateral  line.     Primaries  with  ail  the  markings 
tair  y  well  defined.    Basal  line  geminate,  smoky,  sometimes  extending 
to  the  basal  dash.   Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  outwardly  oblique" 
and  (lu.te  even.    It  is  usually  a  little  better  marked  at  the  -,08ta,  but 
IS  tracMeable  clear  across  the  wing  in  all  the  thirty-odd  specime.js  before 
me.    The  median  shade  is  marked  on  the  costa  by  a  rather  feeble  oblique 
line,  which  crosses  the  reniform  and  is  continued  below  it  parallel  with 
the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  internal  margin.    This  shade,  while 
not  disi:inct  or  prominent,  is  traceable  in  almost  every  specimen  clear 
across  t  ,.e  wing.    The  trausverse  posterior  line  is  geminate,  the  inner 
hne  smoky  and  not  well  marked,  the  outer  line  black,  lunulate,  the 
uitervening  space  paler  than  the  ground  color.    As  a  whole  the  line  is 
quite  evenly  bisinuatc.     The  subterminal  line  is  pale,  very  slightly 
"larked  in  n.ost  of  the  specimens,  but  quite  evident  in  some  of  the 
<lai  Ivest  for.us.    It  is  sometimes  entirely  obsolete.     There  is  a  series  of 
I'la.k  tern.inal  dots  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  beyoml  which  the  latter 
arc  cut  with  black.    The  basal  stro.ik  is  broad  and  thick,  extending,  to 
t  le  ..uter  portion  of  the  transverse  anterior  line,  but  verv  rarely  beyond 
It.    There  is  a  dagger  mark  oi^ixxsite  the  cell  which  t<mches  but  rarely 
crosses  the  trans-verse  posterior  line.     A  similar  mark  in  the  submedian 
interspace  usual. y  crosses  the  trausverse  posterior  line,  and  i«  mwh 
i.«uvier  than  tiie  other,  without  becoming  as  prominent  as  in  hheliae. 


4\ 


'■f\ 


86 


PRocEEDmas  or  the  national  museum. 


VOL.  XXI. 


!|i: 


The  ordinary  spots  are  fairly  well  defined.  The  oii)icnlar  is  small,  a 
little  irrogulsir,  sometimes  oval,  qnife  usually  complete.  The  reniforni 
islif  moderate  size,  usually  indelined  outwardly.  The  two  spots  are 
counected  inferiorly  by  a  black  line.  Secondaries  smoky  white  in  the 
male,  darker  in  the  female.  Beneath  whitish,  more  or  less  powdered, 
with  the  usual  outer  line  and  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.80  inches  (,'{7  to  4i3  mm.). 

Habitat. — Canada  to  Florida,  west  to  Colorado ;  Kittery  Point,  Maine, 
in  August;  Carboiidale,  Illinois,  in  May;  Union  County,  New  Jersey, 
in  July;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  August. 

This  is  another  common  species  with  all  the  essential  markings  of 
lobcUae.  It  is  much  darker,  however,  distinctly  smaller  in  size,  and 
without  the  peculiar  yellowish  tinge.  On  the  whole,  the  black  mark 
ings  are  not  so  prominent  as  in  the  preceding  species,  but  it  is  difficult 
to  point  out  distinctive  characters  other  than  such  as  have  already  been 
noted.  With  a  good  series  of  specimens  at  hand  there  is  rarely  ii 
doubt  as  to  the  species;  but  occasionfiUy  au  intermediate  example  may 
be  troublesome,  uidess  reference  is  had  of  the  male  sexual  characters. 
The  head  structure  is  essentially  as  in  loheUac.  The  leg  is  not  quite  so 
heavily  built,  and  its  heaviest  point  on  the  femur  is  nearer  to  the 
center.  The  tibial  epiphysis  is  at  about  the  middle  and  extends  nearly 
to  the  tip.  The  harpes  are  long  and  narrow  and  somewhat  acutely 
rounded  at  the  tip.  The  clasper  is  rather  slender,  the  superior  pro 
cesses  being  very  long  and  well  curved.  There  is  a  finger-like  process 
from  the  upper  margin,  and  this  chara(!ter  will  always  separate  this 
species  from  lobeliae.  Between  thirty  and  forty  specimens  have  beeu 
under  examination. 

LARVA. 


French,  Can.  Ent.,  1886,  XVIII,  p.  118  {lohcline). 

Egg. — Bound,  very  flat,  the  well-marked  vertical  grooves  becoming 
obscure  at  the  apex  and  less  numerous.  Transverse  striae  scarcely 
indicated.  A  slight  rim  at  the  base,  where  the  egg  is  applied  to  the 
leaf.  Colorless,  whitish,  not  entirely  transparent;  diameter,  1  mm.; 
height,  about  0.25  mm. 

Stage  I. — Translucent  white,  without  marks.  Head  higher  than 
wide,  mouth  pointed;  width,  0.3  mm.  Setae  single,  normal,  long, 
curved,  I  and  II  dark,  the  rest  pale  and  finer,  subprimaries  absent. 

Stage  IT. — Head  squarer  than  before,  with  pointed  lobes,  colorless; 
eye  black ;  width,  0.5  mm.  Body  colorless,  except  for  the  food  showing 
by  transparency;  a  little  opaquely  whitish.  Warts  large,  concolorous, 
each  bearing  a  crown  of  short,  i)ale  setae  besides  the  central  dark  one. 
Subventral  setae  all  pale;  IV  small,  situated  on  the  white  tracheal 
line,  VI  distinct,  elongated  longitudinally.  A  few  setae  on  the  leg 
plates.  Later  the  body  becomes  pale  green,  with  a  broken  white  sub 
dorsal  line  along  Liiberoies  II. 

Stage  iJi.— Head,  about  1  mm.    Body  higher  than  wide,  all  pale 


vol..  XXI. 


1110.  NORTH  AMEIilCAX  XOCTiriltAK—SMrTH  JA7)  DVin. 


87 


pvew,  a  psilc,  1>i(»k(Mi,  ytnllowish  siibdorsiil  lino.  Warts  (UMicoIorous ; 
liairs  more  mimcrous  than  hotbre,  more  than  one  Umg;  on»<  fnmi  eacli 
wait,  pale,  ex('ei)t  some  of  the  lon^f  dorsal  ones.  In  another  specimen 
a  st'ries  of  dorsal  <Teamy  wliite  ]>atcheH  composed  of  a  bar  connecting 
tubercles  I  rcachiu},'  back  on  the  sides  to  II  and  again  conneiited  by  a 
narrow  line  behind  1 1.  These  are  small  on  Joints  3  and  4.  large  on  5  to 
i;{,  tliat  on  V2  with  both  transverse  lines  large. 

Stuffe  I  r.— Head  bilobed,  whitish,  faintly  brown  mottled  on  tlie  npper 
part  of  the  face;  width,  1.8  mm.  Body  green,  wltli  a  yellow  snbdorsal 
line  between  tubercles  \  and  II,  divergent  on  the  thora.x.  Hairs  few, 
lilack  and  white;  warts  concolorons,  I  and  II  forming  a  square  on  Joint 
IL'.  A  few  fine  sec(mdary  hairs  laterally,  seen  under  a  half-incb  object- 
i\('.  Later  the  dorsal  space  becomes  faintly  touched  with  brown  on 
Joints  13  to  12  between  the  yellow  lines.  In  another  specimen  there 
were  white  dorsal  patches  as  before,  but  red  centered,  the  transverse 
bars  broken  by  the  red,  the  side  parts  fusing  into  the  usual  subdorsal 
line. 

Stdffe  T^.— Head  green,  mottled  with  red  brown  on  a  white  ground 
over  the  apex  of  the  lobes  and  face;  clypeus  green;  widtli,  2.5  mm. 
liody  green,  a  red  dorsal  line  on  the  narrow  ridge  like  dorsal  space 
cducd  with  yellow  along  warts  II,  reaching  Joint  13  and  marked  with 
l)la(kish  on  the  thorax  and  Joint  12.  Hairs  thin,  dark  dorsally,  white 
snbventrally,  and  supplemented  by  secondary  ones.  Later  the  color  of 
the  head  beconu^s  yellowish;  dorsal  band  brownish  red,  darker  on 
joints  3  to  5,  broken  by  yellow  in  the  incisures,  obsolete  on  Joint  2, 
enlarged  on  12  and  reaching  13. 

Sfufje  FJ.— Head  bilobed,  shining  black,  with  a  red  patch  at  the  apex 
of  each  lobe,  slightly  shagreened,  the  coarse  setae  pale;  width,  3.7  mm. 
l5ody  dull  black,  the  warts  (except  I)  pale  brown,  with  central  hair  and 
tiny  crown  of  reddish  hairs,  the  brow)iish  setae  resembling  the  rather 
numerous  secondary  hairs.  A  dorsal  bright  red  stripe  on  joints  3  to  11, 
narrowly  edged  with  velvety  black,  broken  broadly  in  the  incisures, 
.loiut  12  black  on  toj),  slightly  elevated;  feet  pale. 

Another  larva  had  but  five  stages,  with  the  following  widths  of  head: 
.3,  .5, 1,  2.2, 3.6  mm. 

Oocoow.—"  Spun  up  above  ground,  covered  with  small  fragments  of 
wood"  (Kiley). 
Food  plants.— Wild  cherry,  fire  cherry,  choke  cherry. 


ACRONYCTA  HASTA  Guen6e. 
(I'lafea  I,  fig.  14;  IV,  fig.  2,  iidult;  XVIII,  fig.  30,  leg;  XX,  fig.  13,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronycta  hasta  Gukni^ie,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  15.— Walker,  Cat.  Brit. 

Mu8.,  Het.,  185tv,  IX,  p.  51. 
Apdtela  hasta  Gbotk,  I'apilio,  1883,  III,  p.  67. 
Acronycta  telum  Gt-KNicE,  Spec.  Gen.,  Nnct.,  1S.-i2,  I,  p.  45,— Walker,  Cat.  Brit. 

MuB.,  Het.,  185^!,  IX,  p.  54. 
Apatela  iclum  Gboxe,  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  1883,  VI,  p.  571. 


11 


88 


PROCKKniXas  of  the  national  museum.  vol. XXI 


Ground  color  rather  ])iih«  aah  gray,  mottled  witli  anioky.  Ilea*!  and 
thorax  with  the  UHiial  lateral  line.  I'riiiiarieH  with  all  the  uuirkiugs 
fairly  well  detliied.  Hasal  line  geminate,  evident  on  the  costa,  and 
sometiincH  continued  to  the  bia«'k  dash.  Transverse  iinterior  line  gem 
inat/e,  well  marked  throughout  in  most  of  the  speeiuiens,  but  occasionally 
becondiig  faint,  especially  in  the  fenuile,  and  in  souje  instances  entirely 
wanting.  The  median  shade  is  marked  obliiiuely  on  the  costa,  aii*l 
sometimes  it  is  tra<'eable  below  that  point.  Occasionally  it  nuiy  be 
followed  for  its  entire  ('-ourse.  Transverse  posterior  line  geminate;  but 
the  inner  line  is  very  feebly  if  at  all  defined,  ami  indicated  by  the  paler 
included  shade.  The  outer  portion  «)f  the  line  is  black,  juirrow,  mor<; 
or  less  lunuhited,  and  as  a  whole  the  line  is  somewhat  S-shaped.  There 
is  a  fairly  evident  subtermiiial  line,  which  is  pale  and  irregular,  varying 
much  in  distinctnj'ss.  There  is  a  series  of  black  dots  at  the  base  of 
the  fringes,  which  are  cut  wil  h  black  beyond  them.  There  is  a  heavy 
black  basal  dash,  which  extends  to  the  traiwvers(5  anterior  line,  and 
sonietimes  crosses  it  into  the  median  space,  though  this  is  rare.  A 
narrow  black  dagger  mark,  whi(!h  tends  to  obolescence,  is  opposite  the 
cell;  a  more  i)rominent  dash  opposite  the  anal  angle  crosses  the  trans 
verse  posterior  line  in  the  subuiedian  interspace.  The  ordinary  spots 
are  of  the  ground  color  or  a  little  paler.  The  orbicular  is  irregular, 
somewhat  oval.  The  reniforra  rather  small,  kidney-shaped,  well  marked 
inwardly,  but  usually  vague  outwardly.  The  spots  are  distinctly  con- 
nected by  a  black  line.  Secondaries  in  the  male  whitish,  with  a  faint 
smoky  tinge;  in  the  female  smoky.  Beneath  white  or  nearly  so,  more 
or  less  black  powdered,  the  primaries  sometimes  a  little  smoky,  both 
wings  with  the  usual  outer  line  and  dusky  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  l.oO  to  1.80  inches  (37  to  4;"»  mm.). 

Habitat. — Canada  in  June;  Maine  to  VVashingron,  District  of  Colum- 
bia, west  to  the  Mississippi;  White  Mountains,  New  Hampshire,  iu 
July;  Ithaca,  New  York,  June  17;  Otto,  New  York,  July  18;  Delaware 
iu  March  and  May. 

It  is  probable  that  the  range  of  this  species  is  greater  than  is  indi- 
(tated,  but  all  my  material  is  from  the  more  northern  portions  of  our 
country.  The  species  is  not  uncommon  in  New  Jersey,  and  seems  to  be 
not  rare  in  Northern  New  York  and  New  Hampshire.  I  have  some 
thirty-odd  specimens  before  me  which  show  very  little  range  of  varia 
tioii,  except  iu  size.  On  the  whole,  the  species  vesemhit^J'nrcifera  quite 
closely,  but  the  ground  color  is  a  much  cleaner  gray  and  the  forewings 
are  rather  peculiarly  mottled  by  smoky  shadings,  which  are  not  so  dis 
tinctly  h)i!alize(l  that  they  can  be  described.  The  markings  contrast 
more  than  in  /nrci/cra,  and  finally,  the  secondfiries  in  both  sexes  arc 
much  i)aler  than  in  the  previous  species.  In  the  male  they  are  almost 
white;  iu  the  female  they  are  not  as  dark  as  in  the  male  ot  furcifera. 
In  the  character  of  the  head  this  species  agrees  in  general  with  lobeliac. 

S  M        t  rt  V       'Vg       »?tl   ItV.  LTlt  V       t  IM        1  T„i-TT_  ill  «-'IttllV.T_'       I  »7      \J  H        UllT.'       YT  il\J  ITZ.       V\J      J  tif  Vt/CF  tl* 

though  comparatively  somewhat  smaller.    The  harpes  of  the  male  are 


tiou  of  the 


1140.        NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAB, 


89 


i;:tlier  Hliorfc,  distinctly  coiiHtricted  before  the  tip,  ho  that  thin  Heenig 
.iiliirgod  aiul  obli(inely  roun<le«l.  Tiio  clftsixT  is  stout,  well  devt'loped, 
witli  the  superior  process  long,  stroug,  and  well  curved.  There  is  no 
linger-like  process  from  the  superior  margin. 

ACRONYCTA  LAETIFICA,  new  species. 
(I'lateHlII,  fig.  12,  lidult;  XVII,  (ig.  21,  leg;  XX,  fl^.  !•,  limits  Konifalitt.) 

(hound  color  a  creamy  wiiite,  more  or  less  black  powdered.     Head 
and  thorax  as  usual,  the  disk  sometimes  faintly  yellowish.     Primaries 
with  all  the  markings  fairly  evident.     Masai   line  geminate,  brown, 
marked  on   the  ccsta  and  sometimes  extending  to  the  basal  dash. 
Transverse  anterior  line  geuuuate,  oblicjue,  more  or  less  broken,  black 
or  brown,  varying  much  in  distinctness.    On  the  whole,  it  is  outwardly 
ol)li<|ue.    The  niediau  shade  is  black  marked  on  the  costa,  extends 
()bli(|uely  to  the  reuiform,  and  is  sometimes  traceable  as  a  brown  shade 
line  parallel  with  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  inner  margin. 
Transverse  posterior  line  narrow,  black,  more  or  less  lunulated,  pre- 
ceded by  a  white  shade  and  followed  by  a  blackish  or  smoky  shading, 
wliich  darkens  the  outer  portion  of  the  wing  and  relieves  a  paler  sub- 
terminal  line.    The  latter  is  more  or  less  broken,  not  defined,  and  in 
pale  specimens  scarcely  traceable.    There  is  a  line  of  black  dots  at  the 
base  of  the  fringes,  beyond  wliich  they  are  cut  with  black.    There  is  a 
distinct  black  basal  dash,  which  usually  extends  only  to  tiie  inner  por- 
ti(m  of  the  transverse  anterior  line,  and  in  only  one  case,  among  the 
si)ecimen8  before  me.  beyond  the  outer  i)art  of  this  line.    There  is  a 
distinct  black  dagger  mark,  which  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line 
opposite  the  cell,  and  another  that  is  much  more  prominent  and  accom- 
panied by  a  dusky  shade,  which  crosses  it  in  the  subnuidian  interspace. 
Tlie  ordinary  spots  are  well  deliued,  of  the  ground  color.    The  orbicu- 
hu  is  is  oval,  irregular,  black-ringed;  the  reniform  cjuite  small,  well 
deliued  inwardly,  and  sometimes  entirely  complete.     In  most  cases  a 
black  line  unites  the  spots  inferiorly,  but  this  is  sometimes  wanting  or 
very  feebly  defined.    Secondaries  smoky  in  both  sexes,  paler  in  the 
male,  and  with  a  yellowish  tinge.     Beneath  white,  powdery,  with  a  more 
or  less  obvious  irregular  outer  line,  and  on  all  wings  a  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  l.GO  inches  (37  to  40  mm.). 

IIahitat.~}^6w  York,  New  Jersey,  Florida.  There  are  no  dates  on 
any  specimens. 

This  species  has  been  confused  with  fureifera,  with  which  it  really 
lias  very  little  in  common.  The  creamy  white  primaries  are  much 
nearer  like  those  of  morula  or  occidentalls,  although  paler  and  with  a 
more  silky  luster  than  either.  This  will  distinguish  them  quite  readily 
from  all  other  forms  in  which  the  ordinary  spots  are  tied.    In  this 

~!~ — -^  •'' 1....^.,  .,(g|  ..iK-  u?.iTTt:tii  luo  Oxuuiaij-  apuLa  Lciius  IV  uccome 

obsolete,  and  in  the  specimens  before  me  three  have  the  connection 


li 


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Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7T6)  872-4503 


„\^ 


90 


ritncEKDiNGfi  or  riiE  national  museum. 


VOL.  XXI. 


entirely  wanting.  Such  examples  will  be  apt  to  fall  with  occidmfalis 
in  the  table,  especially  as  the  latter  spacies  sometimes  tends  to  have  a 
slight  connection  between  the  ordinary  spots.  The  present  species, 
however,  is  larger,  the  wings  are  comi)aiatively  a  little  broader  and 
square,  the  ground  color  is  different,  and  the  primaries  are  not  so  even 
as  in  occUhntalis.  This  latter  species  also  tends  to  lose  the  orbicular, 
which  is  always  distinct  in  the  new  form,  and  finally  the  very  dark 
smoky  secondaries  in  this  species  give  it  an  altogether  different  appear 
ance.  The  head  structure  is  like  that  of  loheliar  in  all  essential  features. 
Tlie  legs  resemble  those  of /nrci/rra,  but  the  fenmr  is  comparatively  u 
little  shorter  and  stouter.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  long,  slender, 
and  just  a  little  enlarged  before  the  tip.  The  cla8i)er  is  stout,  the 
superior  process  moderately  curved  and  quite  heavy.  Tiiere  is  no 
flnger-like  process  from  the  upper  margin.  Tyi)e8  are  in  the  collections 
of  the  U.  S.  National  Museum.  Cornell  University,  Uutgers  College, 
and  Messrs.  Graef  and  Doll. 

ACRONYCTA   MANITOBA,  new  species. 
(I'lates  XII,  fig.  1,  female  adult;  XVJI,  fig.  21,  log;  XX,  fig.  14,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  a  dark  bluish  ash  gray  and  very  i)owdery.  Head  and 
thoiax  with  the  usual  lateral  line,  which  extends  to  the  ends  of  the 
patagiae  in  this  case.  Primaries  with  all  the  ordinary  markings  trace- 
able. Basal  line  geminate,  blackish.  Transverse  anterior  line  gemi- 
nate, blackish,  outwardly  oblique.  Median  shade  extending  obliquely 
from  thecosta  over  the  reniforra,  and  then  parallel  with  the  transverse 
posterior  line,  and,  vaguely  defined,  to  the  inner  margin.  Transverse 
posterior  line  geminate,  the  inner  line  smoky,  the  included  space  white, 
the  outer  line  narrowly  black  and  a  little  lunulated.  As  a  whole,' 
bisinuate.  There  is  an  irregular,  indefined,  pale  subterminal  line. 
There  is  a  series  of  black  dots  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  beyond  which 
the  latter  are  cut  with  dusky,  and  there  is  also  a  series  of  blackish 
rays,  which  extend  inwardly  from  these  terminal  dots.  The  black 
basal  dash  is  heavy  and  reaches  the  outer  portion  of  the  transverse 
anterior  line.  There  is  an  obvious  black  dagger  mark  which  crosses 
the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  the  cell,  and  another  hdavymark 
of  the  same  character  in  the  submedian  interspace.  Orbicular  round, 
of  good  size,  black  ringed,  white  centered.  Keniform  moderate  in 
size,  kidney  shaped,  more  or  less  obscured  by  the  median  shade.  These 
spots  are  interiorly  tied  by  a  heavy  black  mark.  Secondaries  in  the 
male  pure  white,  a  little  soiled  outwardly  toward  the  tip;  beneath 
smooth,  only  a  little  [)owdery,  with  a  vaguely  indicated  exterior  line 
and  a  better  marked  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  l.GO  to  1.70  inches  (40  to  42  mm.). 

Habitat.— Wimnpegy  Manitoba  (Hanham);  Gleuwood  Springs,  Colo 
rado,  July  16  (P>arnes). 

1  have  two  males  of  this  specie.^;  one  of  thorn  a  perfect  specimen, 


NO.  1140.  NOB TH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE—SMTTH  AND  D YAR.  9 1 

tliiough  the  kindness  of  Mr.  TIanl.am;  the  other  an  electric-ligbt^- 
tare  and  a  little  rubbed,  from  Dr.  Barnes.  The  species  is  very  distinct 
and  differs  from  anything  else  in  the  series.  It  is  the  only  one  with  the 
(.rdiuary  spots  tied  that  has  pure  white  secondaries.  The  peculiar  clear 
ashen-gray  color  with  the  dense  powderings  will  also  serve  to  make  the 
species  recognizable.  In  frontal  structure  it  resembles  lobeliae.  The 
anterior  lemur  of  the  niale  is  quite  heavy  and  short,  the  thickest  part 
central.  The  tibia  has  the  epiphysis  attached  above  the  middle  and 
extending  nearly  to  the  tip.  The  harpes  of  the  n.ale  are  (piite  broad 
and  very  slightly  dilated  before  the  tip.  The  clasper  is  stout  and  well 
developed,  the  superior  process  moderately  curved. 

ACRONYCTA   THORACICA   Grote. 

(Plates  HI,  fig.  8,  adult;  XX,  fig.  15,  mal.i  genitaliii.) 

Apatela  thoracica  Grote,  North  Am.  Ent.,  1880,  I,  p.  94;  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68. 

Ground  color  bluish  ash  gray,  a  little  mottled  with  yellowish  shad- 
ings.   Head  and  thorax  well  powdered.    Head  with  the  front  black 
marked,  the  thorax  with  the  disk  yellow.    Primaries  with  the  trans- 
verse lines  tending  to  become  imperfect,  while  the  veins  are  so  empha- 
sized as  to  give  the  species  a  somewhat  strigate  character.    The  basal 
line  geminate  on  the  costa.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate  on  the 
costa,  but  beyond  that  vague,  and  in  none  of  my  specimens  traceable 
across  the  wing.    On  the  costa  the  line  is  blackish;  beyond  that  point 
It  has  a  yellowish  tinge.    The  median  shade  is  marked  obliquely  and 
quite  prominently  on  the  costa,  and  extends  between  the  ordinary  spots. 
Transverse  posterior  line  widely  outcurved,  lunulaie,  narrow,  blackish, 
followed  outwardly  by  a  yellowish  dusky  shading  which  merges  into 
the  ground  color  before  the  outer  margin.    There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  blackish,  and 
from  which  rays  are  sent  inwardly  in  the  interspaces.    There  is  no  sub- 
terminal  line.    The  basal  black  line  is  distinct,  extending  through 
the  transverse  anterior  line  and  into  the  median  space,  in  one  case 
nearly  meeting  the  well-marked  black  dash  which  crosses  the  transverse 
posterior  line  in  the  submediau  interspace.    There  is  a  distinct  dagger 
mark  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  the  cell.    At  the 
extreme  base  of  the  wing  inferiorly  there  is  a  patch  of  yellow  scales.    The 
ordinary  spots  are  incompletely  defined.    The  orbicular  is  oval,  a  little 
paler  than  the  ground  color,  incompletely  ringed  with  blackish.    The 
reniform  is  well  marked  inwardly,  kidney  shaped,  marked  with  yellowish. 
There  is  a  distinct  connecting  line  between  the  ordinary  spots,  and  the 
narrow  space  between  them  is  filled  by  an  extension  of  the  median 
shade.    Secondaries  whitish;   in  the  female  with  a  feebly  developed 
outer  hne.    Beneath  white,  somewhat  powdery,  with  a  more  or  less 
complete  outer  line  and  discal  spot. 
Expanse,  l.(iO  to  1.70  inches  (10  to  13  mm.). 


'^1 

i\ 


92 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol,.  XXI. 


E  "i 


Habitat.— Tuiisou,  Arizona;  near  Hot  Springs,  Las  Vegas  New 
Mexico,  7,000  feet,  July.  ^  '  ^    '  ^^ 

This  species  is  easily  distinguishable'.  The  distinct  yellow  disk  ol 
the  thorax,  the  yellowish  patch  at  the  extreme  base  of  the  wings  and 
in  the  reniform,  and  the  general  yellowish  tinge  beyond  the  transverse 
posterior  line  are  all  characteristic. 

ACRONYCTA  STRIGULATA,  new  species. 
(Plates  XII,  fig.  6,  fe.,mle  ...dult;  XVIII,  t\g.  26.  leg;  XX,  lig.  16,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  an  even  bluish  ash  gray,  very  finely  powdered.     Head 
and  thorax  of  the  ground  color;  thorax  with  the  disk  smoky,  but 
with  a  yellowish  tinge  in  the  male.    Primaries  with  the  transverse 
maculation  more  or  less  obsolete,  ami  veins,  being  more  or  less  white 
give  the  wing  a  longitudinally  strigate  appearance.    Basal  line  want- 
ing m  the  specimens  before  me.    Transverse  anierior  line  marked  on 
the  costa  by  a  pair  of  smoky  lines,  which  are  not  traceable  beyond  their 
inception.    The  median  shade  is  indicated  by  an  obliijue  smoky  streak 
The  transverse  posterior  line  is  very  slender,  blackish,  lunulate,  and 
best  marked  in  the  submedian  interspace.    There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black,  and  from 
which  rays  are  sent  inwardly.    Three  of  these  rays  just  below  the  apex 
are  quite  prominent,  the  third  of  them  forming  a  dagger  mark  which 
reaches  to  and  extends  a  little  beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line.    In 
the  submedian  interspace  there  are  two  of  these  rays,  the  upper  of 
which  is  shaded  and  connected  by  a  smoky  shade  with  the  lower,  which 
forms  a  little  dash  and  extends  across  the  transverse  posterior  line  at 
this  point,  nearly  meeting  the  long  basal  dash,  which  in  this  case  is 
superiorly  margined  by  the  median  vein.    The  ordinary  spots  are  very 
indefinite.    The  orbicular  is  usually  white  or  nearly  so,  but  is  not  well 
margined  and  may  be  entirely  obsolete.    The  reniform  is  of  moderate 
size,  kidney  shaped,  and  only  marked  interiorly.    There  is  a  curved 
black  streak  which  indicates  a  connecting  line  between  the  ordinary 
spots,  and  to  this  point  the  oblique  shade  from  the  costa  extends 
Secondaries  white,  with  the  fringes  a  little  dusky  at  base.    Beneath 
white,  with  a  more  or  less  well-marked  outer  line  and  discal  spot. 
Expanse,  1.36  to  1.55  inches  (34  to  39  mm.). 

ffabitat.—Color&do  (Bruce);  Glenwood  Springs  in  July  (Dr.  Barnes). 
I  have  three  males  and  two  females  before  me  which  do  not  vary 
except  in  size,  and  that  very  slightly.  The  species  is  smaller  than' 
thoracica  and  is  an  intensification  of  the  characters  found  in  that 
species.  The  practical  absence  of  all  the  transverse  maculation,  the 
small  size,  and  peculiar  blue  color  of  the  primaries  will  serve  to  iden- 
tify this  form.  The  head  is  convex  without  being  prominent,  the  femur 
is  well  developed,  the  tibia  rather  slight,  the  epiphysis  attached  very 
close  to  the  base,  but  extending  almost  to  the  tip.  The  harpes  of  the 
male  are  broad  and  rather  short,  somewhat  dilated  and  oblique  near 


N(..  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


93 


their  teriiiiiiation.  The  clasper  is  very  stout,  the  superior  process  not 
very  long,  unusually  broad,  and  only  a  little  curved,  the  finger-like 
]»roce8S  from  the  upper  margin  longer  and  well  developed,  almost 
straight. 


ACRONYCTA  VINNULA  Grote,  '- 

(Plates  IV,  fig.  11,  adult;  XVII,  tig.  23,  leg;  XXI,  Sg.  9,  male  genitalia.) 

Microcoelia  rinnula  Grote,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Phila.,  1864,  II,  p.  436,  pi.  ix,  tig.  2. 
Acronj/cta  rinnula  Grote,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  1868,  II,  p.  118. 
Apatela  vinnula  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68. 

Ground  color  milky  white,  more  or  less  suffused  with  greenish  or 
hiteous  mottlings.    The  disk  of  the  thorax  is  quite  usually  dark,  and 
sometimes  the  tip  of  the  collar  is  almost  blackish.    The  patagiae  at  the 
sides  are  also  black  marked.     The  primaries  have  all  the  ordinary 
markings  distinct,  but  very  variably  evident.    The  basal  line  is  gemi- 
nate and  marked  on  the  costa,  sometimes  black,  sometimes  greenish 
gray,  or  of  an  intermediate  shade.    The  transverse  anterior  line  is 
also  geminate,  outwardly  oblique,  more  or  less  toothed  on  the  veins, 
yet  as  a  whole  quite  even  in  course.    It  may  be  black  or  greenish  gray, 
or  the  inner  line  may  be  black  and  the  outer  green,  or  parts  of  both 
may  be  of  either  color.     There  is  a  distinct  median  shade  running 
obliquely  from  the  costa  across  the  reniform  and  ^Im  nee  with  an  almost 
right  angle  to  tlie  inner  margin.    The  line  may  be  entirely  greenish,  or 
the  part  from  the  costa  to  the  reniform  may  be  black.    The  transverse 
posterior  line  is  indistinctly  geminate,  the  outer  line  black  and  distinct,  a 
little  lunulated,  but  as  a  whole  wifh  a  very  even  outcurve  over  the  cell. 
The  inner  line  is  well  marked  on  the  costa,  but  in  most  cases  is  very 
vague  beyond  that  point.     The    intermediate   space  is  often  white 
marked  and  quite  prominent,  though  sometimes  of  the  usual  ground 
color.     The  subterminal  space  is  greenish  and  vaguely  dettnes  an 
irregular  subterminal  line  by  its  contrast  with  the  terminal  space. 
There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  wings  are 
cut  with  blackish.    There  is  a  more  or  less  distinct  black  mark  between 
veins  6  and  6,  extending  from  the  margin  inwardly  and  sometimes 
reaching  the  transverse  posterior  line.    There  is  a  black  dash  opposite 
the  anal  angle,  which  reaches  to  but  does  not  cross  the  transverse  i)os- 
terior  line,  and  which  is  more  or  less  shaded  with  black  and  green. 
Tiiere  is  a  distinct  basal  black  streak,  which  is  almost  broken  in  the 
middle.    The  orbicular  is  round,  or  nearly  so,  completely  defined  in 
either  black  or  greenish.    The  reniform  is  moderate  in  size,  well  defined 
in  most  instances,  and  crescent  rather  than  kidney  shaped.    The  sec 
ondaries  are  dirty  whitish  in  the  male,  dark  in  the  female.    Beneath 
whitish,  with  the  disk  of  the  primaries  mostly  smoky;  secondaries  witli 
a  distinct  discal  dot,  and  both  wings  with  an  outer  line,  which  is  much 
more  defined  on  the  secondaries. 
Expanse,  1.20  to  1.30  inches  (30  to  32  mm.). 


94 


I'llOCEEDINOS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


ITahitat.—Gmaa&  to  Texas,  west  to  tlie  Mississippi  Valley;  New  Jer- 
sey in  June;  Albany,  New  York,  in  May  and  June;  Evans  Center, 
New  York,  July;  Long  Island,  New  York,  August;  central  Missouri 
in  July;  Texas  in  May,  June,  and  July. 

This  pretty  little  species  is  quite  easily  recognizable  and  is  unlike 
anything  else  in  the  genus.  The  primaries  have  a  peculiarly  smooth, 
almost  metallic,  vestiture,  on  which  the  greenish  mottlings  are  well 
defined.  It  varies  quite  considerably  in  the  amount  of  contrast  between 
the  ground  color  and  the  markings,  and  it  easily  fades  in  the  cabinet, 
so  that  fresh  specimens  are  often  quite  different  at  first  sight  from  those 
that  have  been  kept  in  the  collection.  The  front  is  flat,  or  bulges  but 
little;  the  palpi  are  well  developed  and  extend  easily  to  the  middle  of 
the  front.  The  legs  of  the  male  are  normally  developed,  all  the  parts 
proportionate,  and  none  of  them  particularly  heavy.  The  epiphysis  of 
the  tibia  is  attached  nearer  to  the  base  than  to  the  middle,  but  extends 
almost  to  the  tip.  The  tarsi  are  perhaps  longer  in  proportion  to  the 
rest  of  the  leg  than  is  usual.  The  harpes  are  rather  short,  even, 
rounded  at  tip.  The  clasper  is  very  stout  and  strong,  forming  a  single 
beak-like  structure,  the  edges  of  which  are  irregular  and  toothed. 
They  are  therefore  quite  distinctive  and  unlike  anything  else  found 
in  the  genus.  Altogether,  this  is  a  very  well-marked  form  in  all  its 
features. 

I   LARVA. 

Stage  TT.— Head  bilobed,  rounded,  a  pulverulent  brown  patch  on  the 
upper  part  of  the  face  of  each  lobe,  reaching  to  the  median  suture. 
Clypeus  high  as  usual,  but  the  side  pieces  indistinct  and  fused  with  the 
lobes,  so  that  only  the  triangular  center  is  distinct;  width,  2.8  mm. 
Body  higher  than  wide,  thorax  thicker  than  the  head,  joint  12  scarcely 
enlarged.  Tubercule  II  on  joints  5  and  12  produced,  prominent,  all 
the  others  greatly  reduced,  small,  and  obscure,  except  the  thoracic  ones, 
which  are  moderate.  Body  green,  a  narrow  subdorsal  band  bent  up 
to  tubercule  II  on  joints  5  and  12,  elsewhere  reaching  somewhat  below 
it.  A  faint,  straight,  pale  dorsal,  and  substigmatal  lines.  Prominent 
tubercles  brownish.  Warts  with  a  central  seta  and  crown  of  short 
ones,  dark  from  warts  I  to  III,  pale  IV  to  VI,  with  some  fine,  short,  pale 
secondary  hairs  subventrally.    Length,  24  mm.  ' 

JFood  plant. — Elm. 

ACRONYCTA   FRAGILIS   Guen6e. 
(Plates  XII,  fig.  3,  female  adult;  XXI,  fig.  7,  male  genitalia.) 

Microcoelia  fmgilia  GueniSe,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  34.— Walker,  Cat. 
Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  31.— Grote,  Proo.  Eut.  Soc.  Phila.,  1864  III 
p.  80.— MoRKisON,  Psyche,  1875,  I,  p.  42.  ' 

Bryophila  spectana  Wai.ker,  Can.  Nat.  and  Geol.,  1861,  VI,  p.  38.— Grote  Can 
Eut.,  1877,  IX,  p.  27,  pr.  syn. 

Ground  color  whitish,  almost  completely  overlaid  by  smoky  brown 
scales.    The  head  is  black  spotted;  the  collar  is  black  marked  on  the 


N...  lUO.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITH  AND  DYAR.  95 

disk,  tipped  with  white.    Tlie  disk  of  the  thorax  is  marked  with  smoky 
l.liick,  iind  the  patagiae  are  bhick  edged.    The  primaries  with  all  the 
ordinary  iiiaculatiou  distinct.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  black, 
the  included  si)ace  white;  the  lower  part  of  the  basal  space  is  much 
(linker  than  the  upper,  where  the  smoky  scales  overlying  the  white 
base  are  rather  sparse.    The  transverse  anterior  line  is  geminate,  black, 
toothed  on  the  veins,  the  two  parts  equally  distinct,  the  intervening 
space  white.    As  a  whole,  its  course  is  a  little  oblique  outwardly.    Most 
of  the  veins  through  the  median  spaces  are  white  marked,  and  on  the 
internal  margin  is  a  black  mark  which  does  not  (piite  cross  the  median 
space.     The  median  shade  line  is  marked  on  the    costa,  running 
()l)]i(iuely  to  the  reniform  and  then  very  close  to  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line  to  the  internal  margin.    It  is  not  well  marked,  but  a  little 
darker  than  the  smoky  suffusion  of  the  wing.    The  transverse  posterior 
line  is  geminate,  the  outer  line  black,  distinct,  lunulate,  strongly  den- 
tate on  the  veins;  the  inner  blackish  and  best  defined  by  the  white 
included  space.     Beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line  the  Aving  is 
nearly  black,  relieved  by  a  dentate  white  subterminal  line.    There  is  a 
white  line  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  which  are  black,  or  nearly  so,  and 
cut  with  white  lines.    The  basal  dash  is  merged  into  the  general  dark 
shading  of  the  lower  part  of  the  basal  space.    The  orbicular  is  rounded 
or  nearly  so,  black  ringed  and  white  centered.    The  reniform  is  of  mod- 
erate size,  kidney  shaped,  black  ringed,  and  centered  with  the  smoky 
ground.    Secondaries  yellowish  white  in  both  sexes;  in  some  specimens 
with  an  obvious  outer  darker  liiie.    There  is  a  broken  terminal  line, 
and  the  fringes  are  more  or  less  evidently  «!ut  with  blackish.    Beneath^ 
both  wings  are  yellowish  white,  powdery,  with  a  more  or  less  obvious 
outer  line  and  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.20  to  1.35  inches  (30  to  33  mm.). 

//aiitef.— Canada  to  New  Jersey,  west  to  the  Mississippi;  Cana<la  in 
-hine  and  July;  Manchester,  Vermont,  August  3;  Lancaster,  New  York, 
August. 

This  species  is  quite  different  from  anything  else  in  the  genus,  and 
lias  been  heretofore  associated  with  diphtheroides  under  the  generic 
term  Microcoelia.  In  all  structural  characters  it  agrees  with  Aero 
ni/cta,  and  I  can  not  see  any  reasorj,  except  that  the  markings  are  a 
little  different,  for  removing  it  from  the  present  genus.  It  is  well 
associated  with  the  species  with  which  it  is  here  placed,  and  the 
sexual  characters  Justify  the  reference,  though  they  are  unique,  and 
remind  one  rather  of  tritona,  or  even/Mneralia.  The  harpes  are  broad, 
somewhat  oblique  inferiorly,  and  pointed  at  the  tip.  The  clasper  is 
very  strong,  the  inferior  plate  produced  into  a  curved  book  at  the 
lower  margin,  while  from  behind  the  middle  of  the  upper  margin  there 
arises  a  very  long,  stout,  curved,  hook- like  process  which  can  best  be 
compared  to  that  in  funeralis.  The  front  is  round,  but  hardly  bulging, 
and  the  leg  structure  is  normal,  not  differing  greatly  from  the  species 
with  which  this  is  associated. 


96 


VlincEKDINaS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VObZXI. 


'  j 
% 


LARVA. 

I^Og.— Much  flattened,  round,  with  a  rim-like  margin;  ribs  distinct, 
some  continent  as  they  diminish  in  number  towanl  the  vertex,  wavy, 
about  sixty  on  the  edge;  niicropyle  irregularly  ridged;  cross  lines  just 
perceptible  in  certain  lights;  shell  colorless,  white;  diameter,  0.7  mm. 

Stage  i.— liody  glassy,  colorless;  food  green.  Tubercles  colorless, 
normal,  I  to  V  present,  VE  absent,  I  and  II  in  a  scjuare  on  joint  IJ, 
Setae  single,  long,  pale.  Leg  plates  concolorous,  with  three  setae. 
Width  of  head,  0.3  mm. 

Sfiifje  /A—Width  of  head,  0.4  mm.  Colorless;  food  green ;  faint  white 
spots  along  warts  11.  Warts  normal,  VI  present,  rather  elevated,  each 
with  a  seta  and  crown  of  shorter  ones.  Hair  pale,  some  dark  ones 
dorsally. 

Stage  7/J.— Whitish;  food  green ;  width  of  head,  0.6  mm.  A  row  of 
white  subdorsal  spots  along  warts  II,  all  as  before. 

Stage  JF.— Green,  warts  II  broadly  white;  head  whitish;  width, 
about  1  mm.  (calculated,  0.86  mm.),  bilobed.  Uair  black  and  white, 
very  long.     Warts  conic,  with  a  crown  of  soft  hairs. 

Stage  T\— As  before,  darker  green,  but  still  pale.    White  patches 
over  warts  I  and  II  distinct,  somewhat  oblique.    Hair  long,  dark  dor 
sally;  some  scattered  pale  secondary  ones  on  the  body,  most  numerous 
subventrally.     Width  of.  head,  1.2  mm.;  wart  IV  small.    In  male  lar- 
vae the  sex  glands  show  plainly  in  joint  9,  whitish. 

Stage  F/.— Head  bilobed,  rounded,  green,  with  pale  setae;  no  angles 
nor  tubercles;  width,  1.8  mm.  Body  thick,  round,  joint  12  a  little 
enlaiged,  segmental  incisures  all  well  marked.  Warts  small,  with  fine 
hairs,  normal,  IV  very  small.  Hair  long,  black  from  warts  I  to  III, 
shorter  and  white  from  V  and  VI.  Body  green ;  a  broad  yellow  subdor- 
sal line,  covering  warts  II,  broken  in  the  incisures.  Toward  the  end  of 
the  stage  the  dorsal  space  is  dotted  with  purple  brown  along  warts  I, 
but  not  continuously. 

Stage  FJ/.— Head  slightly  bilobed,  green,  a  reddish-brown  shade 
over  the  vertex  of  each  lobe;  ocelli  and  jaws  dark ;  width,  2.4  to  2.6  mm, 
Body  elevated  at  joints  4  to  7  in  position  of  rest,  head  held  down,  joint 
12  a  little  enlarged  dorsally.  Hairs  few,  black  from  warts  I  to  III,  the 
rest  pale,  with  a  few  short,  flne,  dark  secondary  ones.  Green ;  a  narrow, 
broken,  yellowish  white  subdorsal  line  along  warts  II;  wart  I  shaded 
with  purplish  brown  in  the  area  just  around  it,  especially  on  joint  li', 
but  all  the  shading  rather  faint.  Spiracles  dark  brown,  small.  Tin- 
dorsal  shading  may  be  more  extensive,  suggesting  the  filling  in  of  the 
dorsal  space,  but  not  complete. 
Food  plants.— Birch,  mountain  ash,  apple. 

•[Note.— J c)-o»i(/r^i  mineJla  Dyar  (Jpatcla  mineUa  Dvar,  .Journ  N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc, 
1898,  VI,  p.  41)  was  published  too  late  for  full  treatment  here  J 


NO.  1140. 


(Platei 

Apatei 
Hii 

(iroiIlK 

the  disk 

'i'he  later 

with  mos 

line  mucl 

l»y  a  bla( 

hiteous  n 

()bli(iue,  I 

any  of  tl 

eosta,  am 

with  the  1 

t'lom  the 

olisolete, 

costa  it  i 

transvers 

bliick,  mo 

diHerence 

the  wing. 

that  in  sc 

series  of 

black.     T 

posterior  ] 

I)ioinineut 

in  the  sul 

crosses  th 

streak  wh 

two  portio 

blackish  c 

often  som 

shaped.    '. 

touch.     S( 

In  both  ca 

the  primal 

spot;  botl 

on  the  sec( 

Expanse 

Habitat. 

This  spt 

ground  col 

describe  tl 

ing;  but  tl 

I'roi 


VOLiZZI. 


)8  distinct, 
tex,  wavy, 
s  lines  just 
>r,  0,7  mm. 
1  colorless, 
1  joint  1-. 
iree  setae. 

["aiiit  whitci 
ated,  each 
dark  ones 

A  row  of 

li;  widtli, 
md  white, 

e  patches 
dark  dor 
numerous 
male  lar- 

no  angles 
12  a  little 
,  with  fine 
I  to  III, 
w  subdor- 
the  end  of 
g  warts  I, 

s^n  shade 
to  2.6  mm, 
3wn,  joint 
:o  III,  the 
a  narrow, 

I  shaded 
I  joint  1 -, 
lall.    The 

in  of  the 


Ent.  Sor., 


1140.         NOItTJf  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


97 


ACRONYCTA  PAUPERCULA  Qrote. 
(Plates  XII,  ftK.2.,nalea.lult;  XVIII,  r,«.2!M..g;  XXI,  fl^.S,  inalotfenitaHa.) 
Apatela  pauperrnla  (Juotk,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Hci.  I'hilii.,  1874,  p.  197.-Harvby  Bull 
Hull.  Soc.  Nat.  Sri.,  1875,  III,  p.  4.-GROTK,  I'apilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68. 
(Ironnd  color  whitish,  with  an  indehned  reddish-luteous  suffusion, 
the  disk  of  the  thorax  sometimes  marked  with  this  suffusing  color' 
The  lateral  edges  of  the  patagiae  are  sometimes  black.    The  primaries 
with  most  of  the  markings  fairly  evident;  but  the  transverse  anterior 
line  much  less  defined  than  the  others.    Basal  line  marked  on  the  costa 
by  a  black  line,  which   is  sometimes  wanting  or  replaced  by  a  pair  of 
hiteous  marks.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  as  a  whole  evenly 
oblKiue,  but  more  or  less  irregular  on  the  veins,    ft  is  not  complete  in 
any  of  the  specimens  before  me,  but  is  usually  well  marked  on  the 
•osta,  and  the  inner  line  at  least  is  marked  a  little  below  its  junction 
with  the  basal  streak.    The  median  shade  is  marked  by  an  oblique  line 
from  the  costa  across  the  reniform  and  from  that  point  it  is  usually 
ol)solete,  though  sometimes  traceable  to  the  inner  margin.    On  the 
costa  it  is  blackish  shaded;  beyond  that  it  is  vaguely  luteous.    The 
transverse  posterior  line  is  feebly  geminate,  the  outer  portion  narrow, 
black,  more  or  less  lunulated.    The  inner  line  is  mostly  defined  by  a 
ditlerence  between  the  white  included  shade  and  the  ground  color  of 
the  wing.    The  subterminal  space  is  irregular  and  variably  darker,  so 
that  m  some  specimens  no  subterminal  line  is  traceable.    There  is  a 
series  of  black  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with 
black.    There  is  sometimes  a  narrow  black  streak  from  the  transverse 
p(.sterior  line  to  the  outer  margin  opposite  the  cell;  but  this  is  never 
pi  oinineut  and  in  most  instances  altogether  absent.    The  dagger  mark 
III  the  submedian  interspace  is  distinct,  and  except  in  rare  instances 
crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line.    There  is  an  evident  black  basal 
streak  which  is  almost  broken  at  its  middle  and  evidently  made  up  of 
two  portions.     The  orbicular  is  narrowly  oblique,  completely  ringed  by 
blackish  or  luteous.    The  reniform  is  well  marked  on  the  inside,  but 
often  somewhat  vague  outwardly.    It  is  crescent  rather  than  kidney 
shaped.    The  two  spots  are  unusually  close  to  each  other  and  often 
touch.    Secondaries  in  the  male  whitish,  in  the  female  a  little  darker. 
In  both  cases  soiled  outwardly.    On  the  under  side  powdery,  whitish, 
the  primaries  inclined  to  be  smoky.    Secondaries  with  a  distinct  discal 
spot;  both  wings  with  an  outer  dark  line,  which  is  much  more  evident 
on  the  secondaries. 
Expanse,  1  to  1.25  inches  (25  to  31  mm.). 
Habitat—Texas,  February,  March,  June,  and  July. 
This  species  most  nearly  resembles  vinmila,  but  it  has  a  different 
Sround  color  and  differs  in  details  of  maculation.     It  is  very  difficult  to 
describe  the  color  difference,  because  it  is  a  matter  of  shading  and  tint- 
nig;  but  there  is  no  greenish  in  this  species,  that  shade  being  replaced 
Proc.  ]Sr.  M.  vol.  xxi 7 


!«' 


98 


PR0CEEDIN08  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


rouxtx. 


f 


') 

<. 


K  '. 


m'- 


by  a  peculiar  dirty  reddish  luteous.  In  this  RpecieH  tlio  transverso 
anterior  line  in  iiiucli  less  evident,  and  the  ordinary  spots  are  very  close 
together.  The  n)e<lian  shade  line,  which  is  a  distinct  and  constant 
character  in  rinniila,  is  scarcely  traceabh^  in  a  few  spetiiniens  of  this 
species,  while  the  dagger  mark  in  tlie  subinediau  interspace  crosses  th«' 
transverse  posterior  line  in  all  my  spec^iniens.  The  front  is  slightly 
bulging,  but  not  proniinent.  The  pali)i  are  fairly  well  develo|)ed  and 
reach  the  middle  of  the  front.  The  anterior  legs  of  the  mule  are  rather 
shortand  stout,  the  tibiae  particularly  being  stout, theepiphysis  in8erte<l 
just  a  little  abovw  the  middle  and  not  resiching  to  the  tip.  The  tarsi  are 
short  in  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  leg,  and  altogether  this  is  a  stouter 
built  limb  than  occurs  in  vinmila.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  moderate 
in  length  and  quite  broad,  the  tip  being  oblique.  The  claaper  is  small 
and  somewhat  hook-like,  ending  in  a  somewhat  longer  point.  Eighteen 
specimens,  representing  both  sexes,  have  been  under  examination. 

ACRONYCTA  LITHOSPILA  Grote. 
(Plat."8  I,  tilt.  13,  adult;  XVI,  llg.  10,  venation ;  XXI, »!«.  2,  male  genitalia.) 

AerotH-ula  nthoitpHa  Ghote,  Proc.  Host.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  1H74,  XVI,  p.  240. 
Hyhoma  Htliospila  Gifo iK,  Mitth..  a.  d.  Koeni.  Mus.,  IlildeHli.,  No.  3, 1896,  p. 7. 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  bluish  gray,  with  a  more  or  less  evident 
smoky  suffusion.     Center  of  the  collar  and  the  disc  of  the  thorax 
smoky.     Primaries  with  all  the  transverse  markings  obscure  and  more 
or  less  obsolete.    The  veins  are  more  or  less  black  marked,  and  the 
dusky  shadings  are  longitudinal  in  their  general  character,  leaving 
the  spaces  below  the  middle  of  the  wing  slightly  paler  than  elsewhere. 
All  of  these  characters  give  a  strigate  appearance.    The  basal  line  is 
marked  by  an  oblique  streak  on  the  costa.    The  transverse  anterior 
line  is  marked  in  the  same  way,  and  nothing  is  to  be  seen  of  it  below 
that  point.    The  median  shade  is  also  marked  by  a  smoky  streak 
oblicpiely  across  the  costa.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is  traceable 
across  the  wing  and  it  is  broken,  narrow,  formed  of  lunules  or  dots, 
which  are  sometimes  only  a  Mttle  defined.    There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots  from  which  blackish  rays  extend  inward  in  the  inter- 
spaces.   The  fringes  are  interlined  with  dusky.    There  is  a  very  slen- 
der longitudinal  black  line  at  base  which  reaches  near  to  the  middle  of 
the  wing,  and  sometimes  almost  connects  with  another  black  line  whicli 
represents  the  ordinary  dagger  mark  oi)posite  the  anal  angle.    A  more 
or  less  evident  black  line  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  oppo- 
site the  cell  represents  the  dagger  mark  usually  found  in  that  position. 
The  ordinary  spots  are  scarcely  traceable  in  most  specimens.    When 
best  marked  the  orbicular  is  very  small,  faintly  outlined  by  black  scale.s, 
and  a  tritle  lighter  than  the  ground  color.    The  reniform  is  an  indc- 
flned,  kidney-shaped  spot,  which  is  a  little  brown  shaded.    The  sec- 
ondaries are  whitish,  with  a  faint  yellowish  tinge  in  the  female;  in 


I  sue 


Jii 


Mania         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE-SMITn  ANI>  DYAR. 


99 


l>oth  H<!X('H  II  littU^  (liiMky  (.iitwardly.  Meiuiath  \vliiti8h,  with  the  uhuuI 
((iitiM-  liii«  1111(1  (liHcal  spot. 

IOx|»iiiiHe,  l.LTi  to  1.40  incliPH  (.'{M  to  'M  mm.). 

//«/;//«/.— Cauiulii  to  Floiida,  west  to  th«  Pftclflr  coast;  Mississippi; 
Colorado;  Portland,  Oregon,  in  May;  Central  New  York  in  May 
CeorKJa  ill  April;  MassarhuHetta  in  .June.  ' 

This  spe(!io8  is  easily  reeo^fiiized  by  its  very  dark  colors,  the  almost 
total  absence  of  the  transverse  markiiiKs,  and  the  narrowly  striKiite 
character  of  the  ornamentation  as  a  whole.  The  winys  seem  to  be 
almost  snbeciual  and  are  only  a  little  obIi(ine  on  the  outer  margin,  so 
that  the  (-reature  seems  narrower  winged  than  its  immediate  allies. 
The  front  is  convex  and  a  little  pn)tuberant.  The  palpi  are  w«!li 
developed,  are  free  I'rom  the  front  and  reach  to  fully  its  middle.  The 
harpes  of  the  male  are  slender,  rounded  at  tip.  The  (dasper  is  dis- 
tinct, stout.  The  ui)per  process  is  heavy,  only  a  little  curved,  and  of 
moderate  length.  The  Hnger-like  ])rocess  from  the  ui.per  margin  is 
slender  and  almost  straight.  Twenty  specimens  of  both  sexes  have 
been  under  examination. 

LARVA. 

Edwakdh  and  Elliot,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  132. 

-E/zfir.— Flattened,  like  two-thirds  of  a  spheie,  with  about  forty-eight 
ribs,  diminisliiug  in  number  above,  not  contluent;  smooth,  a  wavy  line 
on  the  apex  and  in  the  hollows.    Micropyle  linely  reticulate. 

Stafie  /.—Whitish,  translucent;  the  food  green.  Purplish  dorsal 
l.atches  on  joints  5,  8,  9,  and  faint  on  12.  Dorsal  setae,  I-III,  black, 
lateral,  IV-V,  white,  all  single,  no  subprimaries,  skin  smooth.  Head, 
0.3  mm.  wide. 

mage  JI.— Head  whitish;  width,  0.45  mm.;  slight  brown  streaks  in 
the  angle  of  the  lobe.  Body  nearly  colorhvss,  green  from  the  food,  a 
purplish-brown  i)atch  covering  warts  J  and  II  on  joints  5,  8,  9,  and  12 
and  trace  of  a  white  subdorsal  line  in  dashes  over  warts  1  and  II  on 
the  pale  segments.  Dorsal  hairs  blackish,  lateral  pale.  Warts 'with 
loug  setae,  two  from  wart  I,  and  clusters  of  short  secondary  hairs  with 
slightly  bulbous  tips,  concolorous  with  the  marks.  Later  a  white  sub- 
dorsal line  is  more  distinct,  shaped  iu  outline  of  the  markings  of  the 
mature  larva. 

8taye  J/J.— Head,  0.8  mm.  wide,  bilobed,the  lobes  pointed;  whitish, 
with  a  brown  shade  below  the  apex  of  each ;  shining.  Body  green  from 
tlie  food,  otherwise  nearly  colorless;  a  white  subdorsal  line  touching 
each  segment,  most  distinct  on  joints  7-10,  where  it  borders  a  faint 
brown  patch  dorsally  on  joints  8  a.id  9.  A  slight  tint  of  brown  also 
on.  joints  5  and  12.  Hairs  long  and  dark,  sparse,  with  many  slender, 
short,  finely  bulbous-tipped  pale  ones  spreading  slightly  on  the  skin 
as  secondary  hairs,  only  a  few  dark  even  in  the  dark  marks. 

Stage  J7.— Much  as  iu  the  next  stage,  the  marks  fainter;  dorsal 


m 


100 


I'HOVBEDJNUS  OF  TUB  NATIONAL  MUStWM. 


WL.XMI. 


II 


band  moRtly  yellow,  rtnrk  in  the  darkest  part,  the  pattern  re<iognizable; 
\vi«ltli  of  Ih'iuI,  I.L!  iiini. 

Stagv  r.— Ileacl  hilobod,  j(re»Mi,  yolJowiMh  above,  the  aplcen  of  th« 
iobertiloJUul  with  dark  brown,  running  down  on  the  outer  aii^'le;  width, 
about  '2  nun.  |{o<ly  humped  u|i  at  joints  4-0  and  lii,  a  litlhi  angularly 
enlar<;,'d.  Hides  ^[retMi,  a  dark  brown  dorsal  band,  ed^n-d  with  ycdiow, 
on  Joints  .{  t(»  i;{,  slijrlitly  widened  ou  joint  ">,  but  not  reaeiiinjj  wart  II 
till  joints  M-ll',  where  it  widens  to  between  warts  II  and  III,  jjradually 
eontractinj,'  till  it  just  covers  II  ou  lli;  narrowly  eontinued  to  the  end 
of  the  iMxIy.  Ou  joints  M  and  »  it  is  shaded  with  blaek  centrally,  no 
jrreen  inclosed  pat«rh,  but  a  laini  paler,  scarcely  whitish  d(usal  line. 
Warts  small,  several  haired.  Hairs  blackish  dorsally,  pale  stibven* 
trally,  wilh  a  few  sej-ondary  ones.    Some  minute  brownish  pile  dorsally. 

Stufir  17.— Head  bilobed,  narrowing.;:  to  the  vertex,  jfreen,  the  apices 
of  the  lobes  dark  chocolate  brown,  spotted  down  the  face;  width,  about 
a  mm.  Joint  12  with  a  sliari>  iiump,  warts  I  and  11  iu  a  sijuare. 
Markinjfs  as  before  throufjliout. 

Staijr  r/f.— Ilca<l  jjre«Mi,  the  apices  of  the  lobes  narrowly  sordid 
puri)li8h  brown,  sliininff,  a  few  black  dots;  the  color  siuides  down  the 
anjfhis  in  mottled  spots  on  a  yellowish  ground,  reachiufr  about  halfway 
to  the  ocelli ;  width,  :.2  mm.  liody  clear  green,  a  little  whitish  frosted 
down  the  sides.  Dorsal  band  on  joints  .'J  to  l.'{,  chocolate  brown, 
slightly  milky,  very  narrowly  yellow  edged.  It  is  widened  on  joint  .'! 
centrally  where  it  begins  sharply;  cervical  shield  all  green;  the  band 
passes  inside  tubercle  I  on  joint  4,  just  covers  1  by  a  slight  expansion 
on  joints  5  to  7,  then  widens  between  II  and  III  on  joints  8  to  10,  just 
over  II  on  11,  and  narrows  further  to  the  sipuire  top  of  joint  lli;  still 
narrower  *y  the  end  of  joiut  l.'{;  end  of  anal  plate  green.  Joints  «  and 
9,  especially  the  warts,  slightly  shaded  with  blackish.  Spiraiiles  white 
witli  black  rim.  Hair  quite  long,  but  very  tine  ami  sparse,  black  from 
I  to  III,  the  rest  whitish,  as  also  a  few  secondary  hairs  subventrally. 
A  numbc.of  small  whitish  dot ,  on  the  sides.  Skin  minutely  spinulose! 
Fitod plantH.—lWckovy,  oak,  chestnut. 

ACRONYCTA  MANSUETA,  new  species. 
(Plates  Xil,  lif?.  7,  male  adult;  XXI,  tig.  13,  male  j;enitalia.) 

Ground  color  a  bright  bluish  gray,  very  smooth  and  even.  Head 
more  or  less  marked  with  brown,  not  forming  distinct  lines.  Collar 
also  mottled  with  brown,  forming  an  indefinite  band  at  the  base  and 
another  one  near  to  the  tip,  the  edge  being  marked  by  lighter  scales. 
The  disk  of  the  thorax  is  sometimes  a  little  darker,  but  more  usially 
of  the  ground  color.  The  patagiae  are  maiked  with  black  at  the 
base  of  the  wing.  Primaries  with  the  ordinary  maculation  fairly  evi- 
dent, but  not  very  strongly  marked.  The  basal  line  is  feebly  indicated 
on  the  costa,  sometimes  single,  sometimes  geminate,  but  always  one 
line  much  stronger  than  the  other  if  both  are  present.    The  transverse 


NO  1140.         SORTII  AMEUtCAN  y<UTril)AK-SMITn  AND  IHAU. 


101 


iiiif.Tior  line  in  Kemiimte,  brown,  a  little  outtiurviwi  from  the  oofita  to 
tlioMul.mediiwi  inteiHpaoe,  where  it  l)e(!oineM  hmt  in  the  dark  Mha<lin.,'of 
the  wiiijr.    The  niedian  shade  in  marked  on  the  costa  and  extends  out- 
ward HunU;lently  to  darken  the  spare  between  the  onliiniry  spots.    Tlie 
trans  verse  posterior  line  i:^  distinct,  H«|uai«ily  outcnrved  over  tiie  cell, 
and  with  a  deep  inward  curve  in  the  snl)inedian  interspace.     It  is  nm\i- 
nato,  the  outer  line  Innnlate  and  black,  but  line,  the  inner  lino  brown, 
slender,  rre(iuently  dellned  only  by  the  fact  that  the  included  space  Ih 
paler.    The  Hpa<e  beyond  the  transverse  |w)sterior  line  is  a  littl.^ brown 
shad«^d,and  the  ternniuil  space  is  more  evenly  dark,  relieving  a  <lirtuse, 
\yhiti8h,  irregular  subterminal  line.    There  is  a  shuider  black  terminal 
line  and  a  series  of  small  terminal  dots,  beyond  whi(!h  the  interlined 
fringes  are  cut  with  blackish.     There  is  a  bhwik  basal  streak  which 
extends  to  the  transverse  anterior  line  and  below  this  the  wing  is 
shaded  with  blackish  brown  or  smoky.     Heyond  the  transverse  ante- 
rior line  this  shade  extends  nearly  to  the  transverse  posterior  line, 
being  best  marked  on  each  side  of  the  internal  vein,  where  there  is  a 
black  streak  extending  nearly  across  the  median  space.     An  arrow- 
shai)e(l  nnirk  extends  from  the  outer  margin.just  above  the  anal  angle, 
inwardly  to  the  transverst  posterior  line,  whicHi  it  barely  crosses.    The 
ordinary  spots  are  fairly  evi«lent  but  not  prominent,  a  little  lighter 
than  the  ground  ei.lor,  very  narrowly  ringed.     The  orbicular  is  almost 
rniiml  and  varies  in  size.    The  reniform  is  kidney-shaped  and  has  a 
slightly  yellowish  shade,  which  is  also  somewhat  nuirked  at  the  base  of 
the  wing.     In  some  specimens  the  shading  Just  outside  of  the  trans- 
verse posterior  line  is  brownish.    Secondaries  pure  white  in  the  male, 
with  a  smoky  Iim3  at  the  base  of  the  fringes;  in  the  female  the  outer 
margin  is  a  little  dusky.     Wings  binieath  white,  very  slightly  powdery, 
with  hardly  traceable  outer  lines  and  discal  dots. 
I'ixpanse,  l.L'O  to  1.4(>  Inches  (30  to  M  mm.). 

flaMtat.—Lo>^  Angeles,  Nevada,  County,  and  Sierra  Nevada,  Cali- 
fornia;  eastern  Washington;   Gartield  County,  Colorado,  7,0()b    feet 
(i'.ruce);  Glen  wood  Springs,  Colorado,  May  and  September  (Uarnes). 
J  have  seen  10  specimens  of  this  species,  evenly  divided  as  to  sex, 
iiiid  very  little  diflference  indeed  between  them.    The  species  is  very 
easily  distinguished  by  the  dark  shading  along  the  internal  margin, 
resembling  in  this  particular /»r«m<//.v,  but  ditiering  from  it  in  the  more 
arched  (iosta,  the  less  curved  outer  margin,  and  in  the  facit  that  the 
black  shading  does  not  send  up  spurs  along  the  interior  i)art  of  the 
transverse  anterior  line.    There  is  very  little  variation  in  the  species  so 
tar  as  it  is  represented  in  the  series  before  me.    The  si/e  of  the  orbicu- 
lar varies  somewhat;  there  is  a  little  change  in  the  depth  of  the  ground 
color,  and  in  some  specimens  a  dull  ochery  tinge  is  evident.    The  head 
seems  small,  the  front  tiat,  the  palpi  well  developed  and  reaching  to  the 
middle  of  the  front.    The  harpes  of  the  male  are  oblong,  a  little  curved, 
evenly  rounded  at  the  tip.    The  clasper  is  well  developed,  beak  like  at 


■•■I 


102 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL,  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


["■V 


the  tip,  and  distinctly  curved  and  twisted.  There  is  a  superior  pointed 
process  from  the  middle  of  the  upper  margin,  which  is  of  moderate 
length. 

ACRONYCTA    FUNERALIS  Grote  and  Robinson. 
(Plates  III,  fig.  7,  adult;  XVIII,  fig.  27,  leg;  XXI,fig.5,  male  geuitalia.) 

AcronyctafiinemlisGROTK  and  Robinson,  Proc.  Ent.  See.  Phila.,  1866,  VI,  p.  17,  pi. 

Ill,  flg.  8.— GiiOTE  and  Koiunson,  Trana.  Am.  Knt.  See  ,  1870,  III,  p.  17i?.— 

Spkyek,  Stett.  Ent.  Zeit.,  1875,  XXXVI,  p.  200. 
Apaiela  fmcralh  Grote,  Check  List  Noct.,  1875,  pi.  i,  flg.  1 ;  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Roeu). 

Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3, 1896,  p.  11. 
Jochearea  funeraliH  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  111. 
Acronycta  americanaX  Harris,  Ent.  Corresp.,  1869,  pi.  iii,  fig.  3  (larva  only). — 

LiNTNER,  Ent.  Cont.,  1874,  III,  p.  157,  pr.  syn. 

Ground  color  chalky  white,  more  or  less  overlaid  by  gray  scales,  so 
that  in  some  cases  the  wing  really  seems  evenly  gray  with  a  little  bluish 
shading.  The  head  and  thorax  share  in  the  differences  in  ground  color, 
and  vary  all  the  way  from  almost  white,  to  nearly  black  in  the  darkest 
specimen.  In  all  cases  a  few  dusky  scales  are  intermixed  which  are 
most  prominent  along  the  sides  where  there  is  a  distinct  line  extending 
from  the  palpi  to  the  base  of  the  wings  along  the  patagiae.  The  pri 
maries  have  the  ordinary  markings  all  traceable;  but  none  of  them 
well  defined  and  the  wing  looks  blotchy.  The  basal  line  is  black,  single 
and  marked  on  the  costa  only.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  usually 
single,  marked  by  an  oblique  black  dash  on  the  costa,  and  sometimes 
traceable  as  a  geminate  brown  line  to  the  longitudinal  black  dash.  A 
small  portion  of  this  line  is  visible  in  the  shape  of  an  upward  spur 
from  the  black  basal  streak.  The  median  shade  forms  a  black  or 
blackish  blotch  on  the  costa,  darkening  the  upper  portion  of  the  space 
between  the  ordinary  spots.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  squarely 
bent  outward  over  the  cell,  moderately  incurved  below,  geminate  on  the 
costa  and  below  the  median  vein.  The  outer  line  is  narrow,  black, 
irregular,  not  lunulated,  the  included  space  of  the  palest  ground  color. 
The  inner  portion  of  the  line  is  dark  shaded  iu  the  submedian  inter- 
space. Beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line  the  wing  is  quite  uniformly 
bluish  gray,  through  which  an  irregular,  pale,  diffuse  subtermiual  line 
is  traceal)le.  There  is  a  series  of  black  marks  at  the  base  of  the  fringes, 
beyond  which  the  latter  are  cut  with  black.  There  is  a  broad  black 
streak  at  the  base,  extending  through  the  transverse  anterior  line 
nearly  to  the  transverse  posterior  line  and  in  some  cases  touching  it, 
and  below  this  the  wing  is  black  or  very  dark  smoky.  From  the  outer 
margin  just  above  the  anal  angle  a  broad  black  streak  extends  inward, 
crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  and  joining  with  the  black  shade 
beyond  it  so  as  to  connect  with  the  blackish  shading  from  the  base. 
The  ordinary  spots  are  incompletely  defiued  and  sometimes  scarcely 
traceable.  In  dark  specimens  they  are  quite  contrasting,  because  they 
are  always  of  the  lightest  ground  color.  Tiie  orbicular  is  round  or 
nearly  so,  varying"  much  in  size.    The  reniforni  is  kidney  shaped,  some- 


VOL.  KXI. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAK. 


103 


I.  d.  RoeuQ. 


times  a  little  constricted  and  not  margined  outwardly.  Tt  may  have  a 
smoky  interior  line.  The  secondaries  in  the  male  are  white,  with  the 
veins  a  little  smoky,  and  sometimes  dotted  to  indicate  an  outer  trans- 
verse line.  There  m  a  smoky  line  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  from 
which  a  dirty  shading  sometimes  extends  a  little  toward  the  base.  In 
file  female  the  secondaries  are  white  at  the  base;  but  become  blackish 
outwardly,  the  wings  being  dark  marked  and  having  the  outward  line 
much  better  indicated  than  in  the  opposite  sex.  The  dark  line  at  the 
l)a.se  of  the  fringes  is  also  much  better  marked.  Beneath  whitish,  the 
primaries  smoky  or  at  least  blacik  powdered,  both  wings  with  a  more 
or  less  distinct  outer  line  and  a  blackish  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.24  to  1.42  inches  (31  to  38  mm.). 

Habitat. — From  Canada  southward;  west  to  the  Mississippi  Valley 
Jefferson,  New  Hampshire;  Keeue  Valley  and  Long  Island,  New  York; 
Mount  Airy  and  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania;  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

This  is  a  characteristic  yet  variable  species.  The  variation  does  not, 
liowever,  change  the  prominent  features  of  the  wing  and  consists  rather 
of  a  change  in  the  ground  color  from  white  to  quite  dark  smoky  gray, 
or  perhaps  better  in  the  amount  of  the  gray  shading  which  overlies  the 
wliite  base.  The  wing  thus  gets  a  mottled  or  marbled  appearance 
which  is  much  enhanced  by  the  broad  black  mark  on  the  middle  of  the 
costa,  and  by  the  blackish  shading  along  the  interior  margin.  The 
upward  extension  of  this  black  mark  on  the  transverse  anterior  line  is 
•  luite  characteristic  and  is  evident  in  ail  the  specimens.  The  black 
shading  is  really  made  up  of  two  separate  parts,  that  from  the  base 
extending  to  the  transverse  posterior  line,  while  a  broad  bar  extends 
through  the  submedian  interspace  from  the  outer  margin  inwardly 
through  the  transverse  posterior  line.  The  front  in  this  species  is  dis- 
tinctly bulging,  and  somewhat  inHated,  The  palpi  are  well  developed 
and  reach  the  middle  of  the  front,  the  anterior  legs  are  moderately 
developed,  the  femur  is  slender,  the  tibia  quite  stout  in  proportion, 
with  the  epiphysis  above  the  middle.  The  harpes  are  rather  broad,  a 
little  curved,  evenly  rounded  at  the  tip.  The  dasper  is  unique.  It 
consists  of  a  flat  basal  piece  which  extends  from  about  the  middle  of 
the  clasper  to  near  its  tip  and  then  branches,  the  upper  branch  being 
rounded  at  the  tip,  the  lower  being  long  and  pointed.  From  the  base 
of  this  flat  piece  a  very  long  stout  curved  process,  which  is  pointed  at 
the  tip,  extends  upward. 

LARVA. 

Harris,  Ent.  Corr.,  1869,  p.  313,  pi.  iii,  iig.  3  (rtmmeawrt).— Lintner,  Twenty- 
sixth  Rept.  N.  Y.  State  Mii8.,  1874,  p.  13.")  (nmericana  Harris);  Twenty-sixth 
Kept.  N.'Y.  State  Mus.,  1874,  p.  157  (fuiieralia). 

Stage  FJ.— Head  large,  slightly  bilobed,  black,  coarsely  shagreened; 
width,  3.4  mm.     Body  dull  sooty  black,  a  transversely  elliptical, 


--p5  — 1.-^.     ~sx. -*-  uX^..«...^      ..  .1....,    ,.f,^,^.(i     ^ff 

and  anal  plate,  reaching 


The  patches  on  joints  3, 4, 11,  and 


104 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  TEE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOU  XXI. 


13  are  a  little  smaller  than  the  others  and  those  on  5  and  12  have  a 
central,  transverse,  depressed,  narrow  black  line,  very  faintly  reaching 
between  warts  I  and  II,  as  if  about  to  divide  the  patch.  Warts  1  and 
II  white,  III  to  VI  shining  black,  single  haired  except  VI,  which  bears 
two  or  three  hairs.  Hairs  short  black,  two  on  each  side  of  the  cervi- 
cal shield,  seta  II  on  joints  5  to  10,  12  and  13  very  large,  long,  spatu- 
late,  and  striated.    Length,  38  mm. 

Cocoon.— ^'^  Leaves  fastened  together  with  a  few  threads"  (Harris). 

Food  plants.— Rickovy,  birch,  elm,  apple. 

ACRONYCTA  TRITONA  HUbner. 
(Plates  II,  fig.  9,  adult;  XV,  tig.  9,  maxilla;  XXI,  flg.  3,  male  genitalia.) 

Triaena  tritona  HCbner,  Zutraego,  1818,  p.  21,  figs.  107,  108;  Vorzeichniss,  1818 
]).  201.  '         ' 

Acronycta  tritona  GfiENKE,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  "42.— Walker,  Cat.  Brit 
Mns.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  53. 

Apatela  tritona  Grotk,  Can.  Ent.,  VII,  1875,  p.  221;  Can.  Ent.,  1880,  XII  t>  87- 
Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68.  >  i  •      ) 

Hyhoma  tritona  Grote,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3,  1896,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  very  dark  bluish  gray,  with  a  more  or  less  distinctly 
marked  fuscous  suifusion.     Head  and  thorax  without  distinct  mark- 
ings.   Primaries  with  the  transverse  markings  mostly  indoflnite.    Basal 
line  wanting  or  only  vaguely  indicated  on  the  costa.     Transverse 
anterior  line  very  feebly  marked,  in  the  best  case  geminate,  brown, 
outwardly  oblique,  a  little  outcurved  between  the  veins.     In  many 
cases  it  is  entirely  obsolete.    The  median   shade  is  marked  by  an 
oblique  streak  from  the  costa  (srossing  the  reniform.    The  transverse 
posterior  line  is  single,  black,  somewhat  irregularly  shaded  outwardly, 
preceded  by  a  very  narrow  pale  line.    It  is  rather  squarely  bent  over 
the  cell  and  incurved  in  the  submedian  interspace.    A  brown,  smoky 
shading  beyond  tlie  transverse  posterior  line  merges  gradually  into 
the  ground  color,  interrupted  by  a  broken  subterniinal  line,  which  is 
sometimes  scarcely  traceable.     There  is  a  series  of  discal  terminal 
spots,  beyond  which  there  is  a  discal  line  at  the  base  of  the  fringes. 
There  is  a  black  streak  at  base,  extending  to  the  inner  portion  of  the 
transverse  anterior  line.    A  prominent  black  streak  extends  inwardly 
from  just  above  the  anal  angle  through  the  transverse  posterior  line. 
This  is  diffusely  suaded  with  black  and  forms  the  most  prominent 
character  on  the  otherwise  very  evenly  colored  wing.     The  ordinary 
spots  are  very  feebly  marked ;  the  orbicular  is  small,  round,  of  the 
ground  color,  very  faintly  outlined,  and  sometimes  scarcely  traceable. 
The  reniform  is  indetined,  of  moderate  size,  kidney  shaped,  and  a  little 
shaded  with  brown.    The  secondaries  are  smoky  in  both  sexes,  darker 
outwardly,  but  as  a  whole  paler  in  the  male.     Beneath  it  is  whitish- 
powdery,  with  very  feebly  marked  outer  lines  and  discal  spots,  which 
are  iu  tuauy  cases  entirely  absent. 


NO.  1140. 

Expans 

Habitat. 

Vork  iu 

Colorado. 

This  sp 

rccognizal 

the  only  ] 

iifutly  sh{ 

rather  a  i 

vex  and  bi 

applied  to 

legs  in  th< 

tibia  with 

male  are  < 

just  befor 

ance,  form 

projects  a 

compared 

jaw  is  ben 

it  can  seal 


Dyar,  I 

Stage  Jl 
ous,  a  bro' 
the  front 
produced, 
greener  fr< 
distinct  sp 
line;  a  sul 
behind,  co 
just  joiniu! 
joint  12,  Wi 
Tliese  linei 
several  fro; 
secondary 

Htaoe  V. 
tubercle  oi 
tlie  outer  s 
6  is  the  o 
border  to  t 

Staije  VI 
dorsal  baiK 
absent  on, 
uincr  alouff 
covering  w 


voi^  XXI. 


.1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


105 


Expanse,  1.36  to  1.48  inches  (34  to  37  mm.). 

//a/n'to<.— Canada  to  Florida;  west  to  the  Pacific  coast;  central  New 
York  in  May;  Portland,  Oregon,  in  May;  Minnesota;  Mississippi; 
Colorado. 

This  species  is  very  constant  in  its  general  appearance,  and  is  also 
recognizable  by  the  very  dark,  blue-gray,  even  ground  color,  on  which 
tlie  only  prominent  markings  are  the  black  basal  streak  and  promi- 
nently shaded  dagger  mark  close  to  the  anal  angle.  The  wings  have 
rather  a  stumpy  appearance  and  are  thickly  scaled.  The  front  is  con- 
vex and  bulging,  but  hardly  inflated,  the  palpi  being  rather  short,  closely 
applied  to  and  hardly  reaching  the  middle  of  the  front.  The  anterior 
lejis  in  the  male  are  stout,  rather  short,  the  femur  a  little  dilated,  the 
tibia  with  the  epiphysis  rather  near  to  the  base.  The  genitalia  of  the 
male  are  characteristic;  tlie  harpes  are  oblong,  distinctly  broadened 
Just  before  the  tip;  the  clasper  is  corneous,  broad,  clumsy  in  appear- 
ance, forming  a  somewhat  bent  scoop,  from  the  upper  margin  of  which 
projects  a  long,  finger-like  process.  It  may  be  somewhat  fancifully 
compared  to  the  large  claw  of  a  lobster,  in  which  the  lower,  movable 
jaw  is  bent  to  its  fullest  extent.  The  species  is  not  at  all  rare,  although 
it  can  scarcely  be  said  to  be  very  common. 


which 


LARVA. 
Dyar,  Inaect  Life,  1891,  III,  p.  391  {tritona). 

Stage  JF.— Head  bilobed,  apical  tubercle  produced,  greenish  testace- 
ous, a  brown  line  up  from  the  eye  to  the  apical  tubercle,  then  down  on 
the  front  a  little  way;  width,  1.2  mm.  Body  compressed,  tubercle  I 
produced,  and  II  also,  on  joint  12,  especially  so.  Color  yellowish  green, 
greener  from  the  food;  a  faint  brown  paired  dot  on  joints  2  and  3,  a 
distinct  spot  on  4-5,  reaching  wart  II  on  5  and  divided  by  a  pale  dorsal 
line;  a  subdorsal  dark  line  on  joints  7-10,  widest  on  7  and  narrowing 
behind,  covering  warts  I-II,  on  joints  7-8,  over  II  only  on  joints  9-10, 
just  joining  another  spot  on  joints  11-12,  which  widens  and  covers  all  of 
joint  12,  warts  I-III  and  is  narrowly  produced  on  joint  13  to  anal  plate. 
Tliese  lines  inclose  a  green  dorsal  patch  on  joints  8-11.  Hairs  few, 
several  from  a  wart,  pale ;  all  simple,  not  glandular ;  a  number  of  shorter 
secondary  ones  subveutrally  below  the  white  tracheal  line. 

Stage  P"^,— Head  as  before;  the  brown  shade  runs  down  from  apical 
tubercle  on  the  face  and  inward  to  notch  of  vertex,  as  well  as  all  down 
theouter  side  to  eyes;  width,  1.5  ram.  Body  green,  as  before.  Joint 
6  is  the  only  one  without  any  brown  marks.  A  whitish  subdorsal 
border  to  the  brown  band  on  joints  7-10. 

Stage  F/.— Head  as  before;  width,  2.4  mm.  Body  green,  the  brown 
dorsal  band  furcate  on  joint  2,  widening  to  wart  II  on  joint  6,  suddenly 
absent  on  joint  0,  beginning  again  at  wart  II  on  joint  7,  branches  run- 


ninflr  alone- warts  IF  nnlv 


II     iQInta   S 11      Q    altlO'lo    Kr«!>/1    n...^;..    „,. 


jOiuL  X- 


covering  warts  I  and  II,  which  are  in  a  square,  then  narrowly  produced 


106 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


i 


it 


to  anal  plate.    Warts  small,  green,  a  central  long  hair:  subventrallv 
spreading  from  wart  VI. 

Stage  VII.     •'  Head  meditim,  flattened  in  front,  finely  wrinkled ;  rosy- 
pink,  becoming  darker  on  the  sides  and  merging  into  shining  liglit 
brown  mottled  with  darker  spots  on  top;  neck,  under  side  of  head  and 
antennae  light  colored.     Clypeus  transversely  wrinkled,  light  drab 
Body  soft  yellowish  green.    Two  convergent  black  stripes  on  joint!' 
meeting  on  joint  3  a  broad  deep  purplish  brown  dorsal  stripe',  whicli 
extends  across  .joints  3,  4,  and  r>,  widening  a  little  oi»  joint  5;  on  joint 
7  this  stripe  begins  again,  but  after  extending  halfway  across  the  seg- 
ment it  splits  into  two  lighter  dull  purple  stripes,  which  diverge  slightly, 
then  run  parallel,  grow  darkei-  and  approach  each  other,  meeting  on' 
joint  12,  thus  inclosing  an  elliptical  area;  the  stripe  becomes  more  pur 
pie  in  color  and  extends  over  the  anal  plate.    Tubercles  slightly  raised 
of  the  same  color  as  the  surface  from  which  they  arise,  most  of  them 
crowned  with  a  short,  dark,  blunt  bristle  and  surrounded  with  a  feu- 
long  hairs.    Ventral  surface,  especially  about  the  legs,  with  a  fine  white 
pubescence.    Spiracles  small,  oval,  black.    Length,  27  mm.;  breadth, 
4.5  mm."    (C.  P.  Lounsbury,  manuscript.) 

Width  of  head,  3.5  mm.    Sparse  pale  secondary  hairs  subventrally. 
Jonit  12  IS  square  above,  sharply  elevated,  the  anterior  part  of  the 
body  not  compressed,  and  apparently  dislocated  by  the  green  joint  6. 
Oocoort.— Composed  of  "earth  and  silk."    (Lounsbury.) 
Food  plants. —GvmhevTy,  deerberry.  Azalea  viscosa. 

ACRONYCTA  QUADRATA  Grote. 

(Plates  III,  fig.  1,  adult;  XVII,  fig.  28,  leg;  XX,  fig.  18,  male  genitalia.) 

Apatela  quadrata  Giiote,  linll.  Butf.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1874,  II,  p.  154-  Papilio 
1883,  III,  p.  114.  ^      ' 

Ground  color  a  light  bluish  ash  gray,  with  a  more  or  less  well-defined 
reddish-brown  suftusion.  Head  and  thorax  without  particular  mark- 
ings, except  for  a  black  line  at  the  base  of  the  wings.  Primaries  with 
the  markings  fiiirly  evident,  but  scarcely  prominent.  The  basal  line  is 
geminate,  but  verj  feebly  marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  ante- 
rior line  geminate,  very  evenly  oblique  outwardly.  Transverse  poste- 
rior line  single,  black,  a  little  shaded  outwardly,  preceded  by  a  paler 
shade  inwardly  and  almost  rigidly  oblique  from  the  costa  to  the  hind 
margin,  practically  parallel  with  the  outer  margin.  The  median  shade 
18  brown,  not  prominent,  outwardly  bent  over  the  costa  between  the 
ordinary  spots,  and  then  inwardly  oblique  to  the  hind  margin  at  or  near 
the  transverse  anterior  line.  The  costal  region  usually  more  or  less 
brown  shaded,  and  beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line  the  wing  is 
dusky,  crossed  by  a  pale,  rather  irregular  subterminal  line.  There  is  ii 
brown  line  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  which  is  interrupted  on  the  veins. 
A  prominent  black  basal  streak  extends  across  the  transverse  anterior 
line.    There  is  a  small  black  streak  in  the  submedian  interspace  between 


so.  1 140.         N 

the  tran8V( 
reaching  ei 
less  black 
mark.  Th 
not  distinc 
kidney  sha 
white  in  b 
traces  of  a 
white  to  sn 
ICxpanse 
Habitat- 
and  Kansa 
This  spe 
are  no  gre? 
of  capture, 
ticiilarly  in 
is  unlike  ai 
the  ordina 
aiijile  is  ah 
upon  the  ti 
reach  the  c 
ably  even 
case  and  s 
bulging  an 
to  the  mid 
not  partici 
strong  in  ] 
middle  and 
tarsi.  The 
harpes  are 
the  ordinal 
cess  from  t 
are  now  at 
noticeable 


(Plates  V,  fif 

Apatela  i 

Papi 

Hyhoma  i 

(i  round  ( 

tiiorax  wit 
primaries 
evident  an 
usually  tra 


so.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


107 


the  transverse  posterior  line  and  the  upper  margin,  and  very  often  not 
reacbing  either  one.  The  space  between  tlie  ordinary  spots  is  more  or 
less  black  filled,  forming  in  the  best  cases  an  almost  quadrate  black 
mill  k.  The  orbicular  is  large,  round,  of  the  palest  ground  color,  and 
iio*^  distinctly  defined.  The  reniform  is  of  good  size,  rather  narrowly 
kidney  shaped,  variably  defined,  but  never  completely  so.  Secondaries 
wliite  in  both  sexes,  but  in  the  female  outwardly  smoky  and  showing 
traces  of  an  outer  transverse  line.  Beneath  powdery,  varying  from 
wliite  to  smoky,  with  or  without  an  outer  line  and  discal  spot. 

I'xpanse,  1.3G  to  1.08  inches  (34  to  42  mm.). 

Habitat. — California;  British  Columbia;  Calgary,  Canada;  iN^ebraska, 
and  Kansas. 

This  species,  though  widely  distributed,  seems  to  be  rare,  and  there 
are  no  great  number  of  specimens  in  any  collection.  I  have  no  dates 
of  capture.  The  specimens  vary  somewhat  iu  ground  color,  and  par- 
ticularly in  the  amount  of  brown  that  may  be  in  the  wing.  The  species 
is  unlike  any  other  and  easily  recognizable  by  the  square  patch  between 
the  ordinary  spots.  The  very  sharply  limited  dash  within  the  anal 
aiijile  is  also  characteristic,  because  it  does  not  in  any  instance  trench 
upon  the  transverse  posterior  line,  while  in  most  cases  it  does  not  even 
reach  the  outer  margin.  Another  characterestic  feature  is  the  remark- 
ably even  transverse  posterior  line,  which  is  scarcely  sinuate  in  any 
case  and  sometimes  nearly  straiglit.  The  head  is  distinct,  the  front 
bnl,ni»g  and  a  little  inflated;  the  palpi  are  very  well  defined  and  reach 
to  the  middle  of  the  front  at  least.  The  legs  are  strongly  built,  but 
not  particularly  prominent;  the  femur  is  quite  moderate,  the  tibia 
strong  in  proportion,  with  a  small  epipliysis  situated  just  above  the 
middle  and  yet  reaching'to  the  tip.  Somewhat  unusually  short,  stout 
tarsi.  The  male  characters  resemble  those'  of  occidentalism  but  the 
liarpes  are  rather  broader  toward  the  tip;  the  clasper  is  distinct,  with 
tlie  ordinary  curved  upper  hook  and  a  short,  rather  stout  pointed  pro- 
cess from  the  middle  of  the  upper  margin.  Four  males  and  one  female 
are  now  at  hand,  but  I  have  compared  others  which  did  not  show  any 
noticeable  differences. 


ACRONYCTA  RADCLIFFEI  Harvey. 

(Plates  V,  fig.  9,  larva;  VI,  fig.  10,  larva;  XII,  fig.  4,  male  adnlt;  XX,  fig.  17,  male 

genitalia.) 

Jpatela  radcliffei  Hakvey,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1875,  II,  p.  270.— Grote, 

Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  114. 
ITyhoma  radcliffei  Grote,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Eo'^m.  '"US.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3,  1896,  p.  7. 

(iround  color  is  of  a  very  even,  pale  '        h  ash  gray.    The  head  and 
tliorax  without  obvious  markings.    The  veatiture  and  coloring  of  the 
primaries  is  very  even  and  smooth.    The  ordinary  markings  are  all 
evident  and  nanallv  wp.ll  iiuirkpd-     Th«  hnsal  litiA  is  o-eminaf-o  j.nnlrTr 
usually  traceable  from  the  costa  to  the  black  streak.    The  transverse 


l*i- 


108 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


if 


.1 


to 


?"f  \ 


VOL,  XXI. 

anterior  line  is  geminate,  outwardly  obliqii^Bran~(l^ath^r~^^^^n~m 
inner  portion  of  the  line  is  black,  the  outer  smoky.    The  transverse 
posterior  line  is  geminate,  the  outer  portion  black,  the  inner  smoky  .„,! 
hardly  distinct,  mostly  relieved  only  by  the  included  pale  shade      Th.-re 
18  a  slight  brown  shade  Just  beyond  the  black  portion  of  the  transverse 
posterior  line,  and  as  a  whole  it  is  quite  evenly  bisiuuate.    The  median 
shade  18  feebly  marked  by  an  obli.pie  shade  on  the  costa.    There  is  i 
very  vague,  undefined,  somewhat  paler  subterminal  line  and  a  series  o'f 
smoky  terminal  dots.     The  longitudinal  black  streak  at  base  is  (lis- 
tmct  and  very  neatly  marked,  extending  through  and  a  little  beyond 
the  transverse  anterior  line.    The  dagger  mark  opposite  the  anal  an.ie 
18  also  very  neatly  defined  and  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  !i„e 
torming  a  distinct  p,si.    The  ordinary  spots  are  of  goo.l  size,  incom- 
pletely ringed,  a  little  paler  than   the  ordinary  ground  color;   the 
orbicular  round  or  oblong;  the  reniform  kidney  shaped.     Secondaries 
white  m   the  male,  but  becomi'ig  smoky  outwardly  in   the  female 
Beneath  powdery,  primaries  smoky,  secondaries  almost  white  with  a 
more  or  less  <lefined  outer  line  and  diacal  spot. 
Expanse,  1.50  to  1.00  inches  (37  to  40  mm.). 

MaMtat.—Cauaihi',  New  Hampshire;  Massachusetts  in  June;  Center 
and  Albany,  New  York,  May  and  June;  Adirondack  Mountains,  New 
York,  in  August;  Virginia  in  May. 

This  is  a  very  neatly  marked  species  which  does  not  seem  to  vary 
mu(;h.  The  ash-gray  <M,lor  is  remarkably  smooth  and  even,  and  the 
marking^  are  very  neatly  defined,  making  the  insects  easily  recogni- 
za Die.  The  head  is  distinct,  the  front  convex,  but  hardly  bulging  the 
palpi  are  well  developed  and  rarely  exceed  the  middle  of  the  front 
especially  in  the  female.  This  latter  sex  is  also  a  little  broader  winged 
than  the  male,  and  as  a  whole  darker  in  color.  The  legs  are  moderately 
developed,  the  tibial  epiphysis  being  situated  unusually  close  to  the 
base.  The  male  genitalia  resemble  those  of  occidentalis  and  its  near 
allies.  The  upper  process  is  well  developed  and  curved,  with  a  distinct 
hnger-hke  projection  at  riglit  angles  to  the  upper  margin. 

LARVA. 
Thaxter,  Psyche,  1878,  II,  p.  121.-Dyau,  Can.  Ent.,  1894,  XXVI,  p.  17. 
Stage  JF.— Head  pale,  a  little  brown  dotted  in  front;  width,  1.2  mm. 
Jiody  pale,  food  green;  no  marks  except  an  orange-colored  patch  on 
joint  12  covering  tubercles  I  an<l  III.  Hair  black  and  white;  warts 
with  central  setae  and  crown  of  short  hairs,  concolorous;  a  few  secon- 
dary hairs. 

Stage  F.-Head  large,  bilobed,  pale  behind,  but  thickly  dotted  all 
over  the  front  and  apex  with  light  red  brown;  clypeus  paler,  eyes  bla<-k; 
width  L.2  mm.  Body  greenish  white,  not  very  opaque;  a  broad,  dor- 
sal, ohve-green  band  reaching  to  wart  II,  tinged  with  brownish,  and 
Citeiiuing  from  joiut  2  to  the  square  dorsal  part  of  joint  12;  warts, 


NO.  1140.        NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE—SHflTH  AND  DYAR. 


109 


me:  Center 


concolorous;  hair  black  and  wliite,  rather  sparse,  a  few  pale  secondary 
ones  subventrally.  Later  the  sides  are  green ;  dorsal  band  brown  with 
a  liiint  yellow  edge  and  a  central  reddish  dorsal  line;  dorsal  band 
not  scalloped  by  warts  II  and  not  extending  on  Joint  13. 

Stoffe  VI. — Head  bilobed,  black  below,  the  upper  half  red,  contrast- 
ing; width,  3.5  nun.  Joint  12  enlarged  and  bearing  tubercles  I  and  II 
in  a  square.  Body  black  with  straight,  even,  yellow  lines— dorsal,  sub- 
dorsal (II),  lateral  (III),  and  subveutral  (V),  the  latter  twice  as  broad 
118  the  others,  all  reaching  from  the  cervical  shield  tx)  the  hump  on  joint 
11* ;  a  perpendicular  yellow  line  from  wart  II  on  Joint  12  to  the  substig- 
uiatal  line;  Joint  13  black  above;  warts  small,  pale,  the  dorsal  ones 
bearing  long  white  hairs  (7  mm.),  those  on  the  sides  short;  a  few,  nearly 
obsolete,  secondary  hairs;  length,  26  to  33  mm.  The  larvae  have  the 
habit  of  elevating  the  anterior  end  when  disturbed.  A  single  speci- 
men, apparently  destroyed  by  a  fungus,  has  an  abnormally  marked 
bead  (Plate  V,  fig.  9«).  The  larva  as  shown  in  (ig.  U  was  made  by  Dr. 
Riley  apparently  from  this  specimen,  and  the  coloration  can  not  be 
reliable. 

Vocoon. — Formed  of  silk  and  bits  of  wood  bitten  ott'. 

Pupa. — "Slender  and  has  a  curious  olive  tint"  (Thaxter). 

Food  plants. — Wild  cherry  and  sugar  plum. 


ACRONYCTA    FALCULA  Grote. 

(Plates  XII,  fig.  8,  female  adult;  XXI,  Ug.  14,  male  genitalia.) 

Apaida  falcula  Grote,  Can.  Eut.,  1877,  IX,  p.  86;  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  68.— 
Packard,  Forest  Insects,  1890,  p.  037. 

Ground  color  a  very  even,  dark  bluish  gray,  which  is  shaded  with 
red  brown  in  the  basal  space  infeiiorly,  and  beyond  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line;  most  markedly  so  in  the  submedian  interspace.  Head  and 
tliorax  are  without  distinct  markings,  except  for  a  black  line  at  the  base 
of  tbe  patagiae.  The  primaries  have  the  transverse  markings  evident, 
if  not  very  prominent;  the  basal  line  is  smoky,  geminate,  marked  on 
tbe  costa  only.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  geminate,  vrell  marked 
on  tlie  costa,  the  inner  line  black  to  the  basal  streak,  and  beyond  that 
more  or  less  lost.  The  outer  portion  of  tbe  line  is  marked  on  the  costa, 
but  loses  itself  in  the  ground  color  long  before  it  reaches  the  inner  niar- 
inin.  As  a  whole  the  line  is  oblique  and  without  distinct  curvings. 
Transverse  posterior  line  geminate  on  the  costa;  but  beyond  that  the 
outer  line,  which  is  black,  is  less  distinct.  It  is  broadly  bent  over  the 
cell,  a  little  toothed  on  veins  3  and  4,  and  incurved  below  that  point. 
There  is  a  vague,  irregular,  paler  subterminal  line,  and  a  series  of  black- 
ish terminal  spots.  The  basal  black  streak  is  very  distinct,  prominent, 
with  a  short  spur  inferiorly  at  about  tbe  middle,  and  it  reaches  through 
tbe  transverse  anterior  line.  There  is  a  very  prominent  black  streak 
just  above  the  anal  angle,  which  reaches  to,  but  does  uoi  cross,  the 


no 


PB0CEED1N08  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


___^ VOL.  XXI. 

transverse  posterior  lino.  This  blacik  streak  is  often  more  orlemlii^own 
shaded.  Tlie  median  shade  is  vaguely  indicated  by  a  brown  streak  on 
the  costa.  The  ordinary  spots  are  very  feebly  defined ;  the  orbiculiir  is 
round  or  nearly  so,  a  little  paler  than  the  ground  color,  but  not  ringed- 
the  reniform  is  very  even,  lunulate  rather  than  kidney  shaped,  witli  a 
few  black  scales  defining  it  inwardly,  but  defined  only  by  its  own  i)iil('r 
color  elsewhere.  The  secondaries  in  tlie  female  are  whitish  at  base 
smoky  outwardly.  Beneath,  the  wings  are  whitish  powdery,  with  the 
usual  more  or  less  evident  outer  lines  and  discal  spots. 
Expanse,  1.40  to  1.45  inches  (35  to  30  mm.).  \ 

Habitat— IWmom;  New  York;  Minnesota;  Winnipeg,  Manitoba. 
Unfortunately  I  have  females  only  of  this  species;'  one  of  theiii  a 
specimen  sent  me  by  Prof.  George  H.  French.  Tiie  name  of  this  insect 
18  a  mistake,  and  based  upon  an  imperfection  in  the  specimen.  Tiie 
margin  below  the  apex  is  almost  straight,  and  the  least  disturbance  of 
the  fringes  at  this  point  gives  the  impression  of  an  excavated  margin. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  the  four  specimens  before  me  there  is  only  one 
whi(!h  gives  the  least  color  to  the  name.  The  species  is  an  easily  recof;. 
nizable  one  by  the  very  dark,  blue-gray  primaries  with  a  prominent 
black  streak  at  base,  and  by  the  reddish  shades  which  are  found  in  the 
basal  space  and  beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line.  These  are  char- 
acteristic and  unlike  any  other  species  known  to  me.  The  front  of  the 
head  is  a  little  protuberant  and  convex;  the  palpi  are  unusually  long 
and  well  developed,  extending  above  the  vertex  in  one  of  my  specimens. 

LARVA. 

CoquiLLETT,  Papilio,  1881, 1,  p.  6.-Packard,  Fifth  Rept.  U.  S.  Ent.  Coram   1890 
p.  637.  '        ' 

Stage  F/.— From  the  only  observations  on  record  the  following  may 
be  gathered :  Head  brownish  in  front,  pale  greenish  on  the  sides.  Body 
dark  brown,  mottled  with  pale  greenish;  a  darker  dorsal  line  reaching 
to  tubercle  I;  venter  greenish  white.  Warts  small,  with  one  or  two 
hairs,  I  and  II  on  joint  12  larger  than  the  others.  Length,  32  nun. 
(Coquillett).  I  assume  this  to  be  the  brown  form  of  a  normallv  ereen 
larva.  ^  ^ 

Food  plant. — Hazel. 

ACRONYCTA   PARALLELA  Grote. 

(Plates  III,  fig.  9,  adult;  XVIII,  tig.  28,  leg;  XXI,  fig.  15,  male  genitalia.) 

Apatela  parallela  Grote,  Can.  Ent.,   1877,  IX,  p.  53;  Papilio,  1883,  II,  p.  KiS. 

Ground  color  a  very  even,  dark,  bluish  ash  gray.    Head  and  thorax 

more  or  less  suftused  with  blackish.    The  collar  has  a  blackish  line 

near  the  base  and  another  near  the  tip,  while  the  tip  is  marked  by 

'  Since  the  above  was  written  I  obtained  a  male  specimen,  which  shows  the  char- 
aojcrs  o.  .;.!e  series  m  which  I  have  placed  it  in  ail  essential  features. 


TOL.  XXI. 


T  less  brown 
^'ii  streak  on 
I  orbiculiir  jh 
not  ri lifted; 
iped,  with  ii 
tH  own  i);il('r 
IhIi  at  base, 
ry,  with  (he 


anitoba. 
)  of  them,  a 
f  this  insect 
iimen.  Tlie 
turbaiice  of 
ted  marj,nn. 

is  only  one 
'asily  recof;. 

prominent 
found  in  the 
se  are  cliar- 
front  of  the 
isually  long 
specimens. 


Coram.,  1890, 

owing  may 
des.  Body 
le  reaching 
)ne  or  two 
th,  32  mm. 
lally  green 


italia.) 

13,  II,  p.  168. 

md  thorax 
-ckish  line 
narked  by 


VV8  the  cliar- 


No.nw.         NORTH  AMERICAK  NOCTVIDAE— SMITH  ANIi  DYAR. 


Ill 


whitish  scales.  The  liead  has  a  white  line  between  the  antennae  and 
tliere  may  be  another  one  across  the  middle.  The  little  tuft  at  the 
base  of  the  abdomen  is  unusually  distinct  and  is  often  bhuik  tipped. 
The  primaries  have  the  ordinary  marUingH  fairly  evideeit  and  Home- 
times  very  distinct.  The  basal  line  is  geminate,  blackish,  mnrk(>d  on 
the  costa  only.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  narrowly  geminate, 
bliick,  a  little  outcurved  to  the  middle,  where  it  is  distinctly  drawn  in, 
iiiid  again  outwardly  oblique  below  to  the  inner  margin.  In  most 
ciLses  the  line  is  more  or  less  indistinct.  The  transverse  jmsterior  line 
is  geminate,  the  outer  portion  of  the  line  black,  rather  even,  only  a 
little  drawn  in  in  the  submedian  interspace.  It  is  accompanied  by  a 
brownish  shade,  which  is  perceptible  but  not  easy  to  locate.  The  inner 
portion  of  the  line  is  smoky  and  not  very  distinct,  best  marked  by  the 
jiale  intermediate  filling.  There  is  a  more  or  less  evident,  but  hardly 
defined,  subterminal  line,  which  is  paler  than  the  ground  color  and 
somewhat  diffuse.  There  is  a  narrow  black  line  at  the  base  of  the 
fringes,  which  are  cut  by  the  broad,  smoky  shades.  The  median  shade 
is  more  or  less  smoky,  forming  an  oblique,  blackish  shade  from  the 
costa  through  the  reniform,  there  bent  and  running  inwardly  as  a 
smoky  shade,  reaching  the  internal  margin  at  the  transverse  anterior 
line.  Any  portion  or  the  whole  of  this  shade  may  be  absent.  The 
basal  black  streak  is  well  marked  and  has  a  short  spur  from  the  middle 
inferiorly.  A  black  streak  extends  inward  from  the  outer  margin 
above  the  anal  angle,  and  reaches  the  transverse  posterior  line  just 
above  vein  2.  There  is  a  shorter  black  dash  extending  nearly  to  the 
snbterminal  line.  The  ordinary  spots  are  fairly  defined;  the  orbicular 
round  or  nearly  so,  outlined  in  black  scales,  within  which  is  a  pale 
annulus  and  a  center  of  the  ground  color.  The  reniform  is  of  mod- 
erate size,  kidney  shaped,  inwardly  marked  by  black  scales,  then  by  an 
almost  complete  pale  ring,  the  center  being  of  the  ground  color.  Sec- 
ondaries white  in  the  male,  outwardly  smoky  in  the  female.  Beneath, 
more  or  less  powdery,  sometimes  smoky  in  the  male.  Secondaries 
with  a  more  or  less  evident  discal  spot  and  outer  line,  which  is  fre- 
quently wanting  in  the  male. 

Expanse,  1.28  to  1.40  inches  (.32  to  35  mm.). 

Habitat. — Texas  in  May;  Garfield  County,  Colorado,  7,000  feet; 
Denver,  Colorado  (Bruce);  Kansas. 

Six  males  and  two  females  are  before  me,  and  I  have  seen  others. 
Tlie  species  is  a  distinct  one,  and  while  it  very  closely  resembles /a^cwia 
in  all  essential  characters  it  is  yet  quite  easily  separable  from  it. 
Tiiere  are  none  of  the  red  shades  which  occur  in  the  more  Eastern 
species,  and  the  details  of  the  markings  differ  quite  obviously.  One  of 
the  most  prominent  points  is  in  the  fact  that  there  is  a  short  streak 
above  the  second  vein  instead  of  the  usual  simple  dagger  mark. 
This  gives  quite  a  different  character  to  that  part  of  the  wing  and 
makes  the  species  an  easil^''  reco^'nizable  one.    The  front  is  convex  but 


'i" 


112 


PROUEEDimiS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MVSKVM. 


p  : 


▼W.XX! 

hardly  protnherant,  the  palpui^well  developed  ^ncf  roach  to  the  mi.i: 
dh,  o  the  tront  or  oven  a  litfh,  above.  The  a,.terior  lefjH  of  the  ma  e 
are  Hlender,  the  femur  a  little  dilated  at  the  base,  the  epiphysis  of  tt 
t  b  a  «.tuated  well  toward  the  base.  The  har  .e«  of  tl.o  „mle  t  ' 
obIon^^  even,  and  evenly  roun.led  at  the  tip.  The  elasper  in  rat  Ir 
.sh3Mder,  w.th  a  short  poi„te.l,  beak-like  tip.  Frcn  the  middle  of  h 
upper  umrgin  m  a  m.iderate,  pointed,  straight  process. 

ACRONYCTA    REVELLATA.  new  species. 
(Plate  XXI,  ««.  10,  mule  «eiiitalia.) 
Oround  color  a  bluish  ash  gniy.     Head  and  thorax  without  special 
markings.    Prunar.es  with  the  ordinary  n.aculation  fairly  wellddb 
Basal  Ime  brown  gen.inate,  nu.,rke<l  on  the  costa,  and  so.netin.es  tm  I' 
able  to  the  basal  <lash.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate  on  the  cos  a 
but  beyon<l  that  point  the  outer  line  is  obsolete,  leaving  only  t t  i nt,! 
black  hne,  which  is  best  marked  from  the  subcostal  to  the  subm    h 

sbeak.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is  single,  black,  outwardly  shadc.l 
with  brown  scales,  bent  outwardly  over  the  cell,  toothed  on  veins  3  a 

term  n.i    li„e,  which  is  evident  in  proportion  to  the  darkness  of  the 
^•mn.a  space.     There  is  a  Series  of  blackish  terminal  lunnles,  beyo  ^ 
which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  brown.    Basal  streak  black,  distinc 
ex  en,ling  through  the  transverse  anterior  line  and  almost  me     «t^ 
black  dash  which  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line  and  reached  he 
margin  above  the  anal  angle.    The  basal  dash  has  a  shmt  sp  r  .  ^ 
norly  at  about  its  middle.     Vein  1  has  a  black  dash  or  shade  ac     n- 
pa nymg  it    hrough  the  median  spac-e.    The  ordinary  spots  are  H    v 
wel    marked;  the  orbicular  ronnd  or  nearly  so,  ringed  by     ,a'kh 
scaes;  the  reniform  moderate  in  size,  kidney  shkped   a  lit  le  inarke 
w      brownish  scales.     Secondaries  white,  with  a  faint  yellowish      .«^ 
m  the  fe„,ale  smoky  outwardly.     Beneath,  white,  more  L  less  p,>wdcrv 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.00  inches  (37  to  40  mm  ) 

Jr-I'ltl'M*  """  """*'"  *'*  ■•«l"««™t<"l  "'  "'0  seric  before  ,„e, 
mm,,.    It  has  much  tlie  same  ground  color  ,,„d much  the sau.,,  patten, 

oppoMte  tbe  anal  angle  much  more  pron.inent  and  heavier  than  in  anv 
s^^ecimen  of  ,,™.«  that  I  have  seen.    The  head  i,  small,  weU  a  ™  I, 

fre  from  Sf  :f  ""'.''"■'''i-^.'  ""'  """'^  '"■'«'"*-'^  *«  ^"'P'  <S 

.,  A,  .iKic  aairowud  CO  che  up,  which  is  rounded. 


NO.  1140. 


N 


Tiieclaspei 
me  show  pr 
National  IV! 
liarnes.  T 
dilated  at 
inserted  un 


(Platea 

AiTonyvla 
Biiir. 

.tputela  g\ 
1883, 

llj/hoiiKi  y 

.Icntiij/cta 
(<K»>T 

188,  p 

(■round  ( 

somewhat   i 

markings. 

the  costa  or 

and  more  o 

obsolete;  ai; 

shade  is   ii 

obliquely  be 

single,  prec 

It  is  out  war 

and  less  soc 

line.    A  ser 

tliiise  are  cu 

extends  thn 

lower  side 

aiijile  extent 

and  quite  in 

piomiuent; 

gioiiiid  coloi 

si/e,  kidney 

brown   shad 

smoky  towai 

niaries  smol 

dis(;al  spot  i 

Expanse, 

Habitat. — 

central  New 

This  is  qn: 

It  is  very  co; 

Proc. 


▼OI.UI, 

o  the  mid 
■  the  nialo 
mn  of  th(! 

luule  ai(! 

is  rather 
tile  of  tho 


NO.  1140,         NORTH  AM KUlCAJf  NOCTUIDAK— SMITH  AND  DYAR.  113 

111)'  clu8per  small,  beaklike,  and  a  little  twisted.  The  specimens  before 
iii(«  hIiovv  practically  no  variation,  and  tyi>eH  are  in  the  collection  U.  8. 
Niitional  MuHeuin,  Kntgers  College,  Mr.  E.  L.  Graef,  and  Dr.  William 
lliirnes.  The  forelegs  of  the  male  are  well  developed,  the  femur  long, 
(lihited  at  the  mid<lle,  the  tibia  moderately  stout,  with  the  epiphysis 
inserted  unuHually  clu^e  to  baue. 


'Ill 


111 


ut  special 
lldctiii(>(l. 
lies  trace- 
the  costa, 
the  inner 
ibuiedian 
the  basiil 
ly  shaded 
iuH  3  and 
ned  sub- 
ss  of  the 
1,  beyond 
distinct, 
Btiny  the 
iches  the 
pur  iufe- 
i  acconi- 
lie  fairly 
blackish 
marked 
h  tinge; 
owdery, 
marked 


alorado, 

fore  nie, 
than  in 
pattern 
ek  das! I 
I  in  any 
applied 
istinct, 
harpes 
>uuded. 


ACRONYCTA    ORISEA    Walker. 
(I'liit«B  III,  lig.  »,  «<lult;  XVII,  tl«.  25,  leg;  XXI,  flj;.  11,  male  Kenltalia.) 

Ai-ronyota  orhea^S w.KKii,  Cat,  Brit.  Mum.,  Het.,   1856,  IX,  p.  56.— Ghotk,  Hull. 

Biitr.  Hoc.  Niit.  S(!|.,  1H78,  T,  p.  78. 
Afmlela  yrixea  (Jkotk,  (Jan.  Kiit.,  1875,  VII,  p.  222;  111.  EsHay,  1882,  p.  .W;  I'apilio, 

1883,  III,  p.  68.— I'ackaki),  ForcHt  InsiMtn,  1890,  p.  272. 
Ilj/lioitui  grhea  (Ikotk,  Mitlh.,  a.  <1.  Koeiii.  Muh.,  IlihlcBh.,  No.  3,  18{Xi,  p.  7. 
.Icruni/cta  pndorata  Mouim.son,  Ann.  .I.yc,  Nat.  lliHt.,   .\.  Y.,  1875,  XI,  p.  9.S.— 

(JiK.TK,  Can.  Kilt.,  1875,  VII,  pp.  221,  222,  pr.  syii. ;   Can.  Knt.,  1880,  XII,  p. 

188,  pr.  Byn. 

(Iround  color  ash  gray,  a  little  mottled  with  brown,  giving  it  a 
somewhat  marbled  appearance.  Head  and  thorax  without  dellued 
markings.  I'rimaries  with  the  basal  line  geminate,  brown  marked  on 
the  costa  only.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  the  outer  line  brown 
and  more  or  less  obsolete,  the  inner  line  blackish,  also  more  or  less 
obsolete;  as  a  whole  quite  eveidy  obliciue,  outwardly.  The  median 
siiiide  is  indicated  by  a  smoky  streak  from  the  costa,  extending 
obli(iuely  between  tiie  ordinary  spots.  Transverse  posterior  line  black, 
.single,  preceded  by  a  slightly  paler  and  followed  by  a  brownish  shade. 
It  is  outwardly  bent  over  the  cell,  strongly  toothed* on  veins  3  and  4, 
and  less  so  on  vein  one.  A  vague,  iudeflned,  irregular,  pale  subterminal 
line.  A  series  of  smoky  marks  at  the  base  of  the  fringes,  beyond  which 
these  are  cut  with  black.  There  is  a  distinct  black  basal  streak,  which 
extends  through  the  transverse  anterior  line  and  is  tbrked  from  the 
lower  side  at  about  its  middle.  The  black  dash  opposite  the  anal 
angle  extends  through  the  transverse  posterior  line,  and  is  well  nuirked 
and  quite  neatly  defined.  The  ordinary  spots  are  evident,  though  not 
prominent;  the  orbicular  is  round  or  nearly  so,  a  little  paler  than  the 
ground  color,  and  outlined  by  smoky  scales ;  the  reniform  is  of  moderate 
size,  kidney  shaiR'd,  very  imperfectly  outlined,  the  center  just  a  little 
brown  shaded.  The  secondaries  are  soiled  whitish,  in  the  female 
smoky  toward  the  outer  margin.  Beneatli  ])Owdery,  the  disk  of  pri- 
iiiaiies  smoky  in  the  female,  a  more  or  less  evident  outer  line  and 
discal  spot  in  both  sexes. 

Expanse,  l.*-'5  to  1.40  inches  (31  to  35  mm.), 

Ifahitat—CtAuskila,  southward  to  Georgia,  wesc  to  the  Mississippi; 
central  New  York  in  June;  Minnesota  in  July. 

This  is  quite  a  widely  distributed  species,  though  nowhere  common. 
it  is  very  constant  in  its  general  appearance;  and  in  the  examples  that 
Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 8 


114 


VRnCKKlUNOS  or  rilK  natiosal  MuanvM. 


TObUi. 


\ 


^^m 


I  have  luul  l)ef»r«  me  thor«  Iihh  l,«en  no  notlcoahlo  variation,  exoepf 
that  of  sijte,  ana  a  little  in  tli..  jrro.md  <;olor.  Tin,  liou.i  !«  wniall 
closely  appIiiMi  to  the  thorax;  the  fn.iit  convex,  but  not  huljfinK;  tlu' 
palpi  w.'jl  (U'volop...!,  fr.u.  f,„n.  the  front  and  extending  ut  Irast  to  its 
n.uUlle.  The  anterior  leKH  of  the  male  are  well  <levelope<l;  tin,  fenuir 
of  moderate  Hize,  quite  diHtlnetly.lihited  at  the  middle,  an«l  the  tibia 
moderately  bn.nd,  with  the  epiphysis  inserted  close  to  the  bane  The 
harpes  of  the  male,  are  short  and  (piite  broa<l,  a  little  narrowed  at  the 
tip  and  nmnded.  The  elasper  is  distinct,  twisted,  beak  like,  with  a 
htthi  tuft  of  diverKinj,'  Iniir.  This  species  .an  not  bo  easily  mixed  with 
any  other  within  its  range,  and  its  nearest  ally  is  the  Western  species 
just  described  as  nwellata. 

LARVA. 

Er.WAUi.H  ,o„l  Ei.i.ior,   l'.ipili«,  1S83,  III.  p.  ISL-Packabi.,  Filth  Kept.  11  S 
Eut.  Coiiiin,,  18!X),  p.  272.  * 

moffe  /.-Head  whitish;  whith,  ()..*{  mm.     Rody  translucent  whitish 
slneld  and  anal  plate  dusky  lute<ms.     Hctae  large,  distinct,  <lark  the 
bases  so  large  as  to  be  nearly  touc-hing,  singh.,  normal;  subprimar.cs 
absent.     On  joints  t,  .5,  0,  !),  and  12  a  brown  dorsal  pat<!li. 

i^t(fgr  //.-Head  bilobed,  angular,  with  pale  setae,  whitish;  a  brown 
shade  at  the  vertex ;  width,  ()!>  mm.  IJody  whitish,  sides  of  the  eervi- 
cal  shield  brown.  Three  dark  red-brown  j)atches  on  joints  4-6,  H-\)  a,„i 
12,  covering  tubercle  I  on  joint  4,  on  the  rest  reaching  to  tubercle  li- 
on joint  32  tubercles  1  and  11  nearly  in  line;  the  patch  is  lighter  brown 
and  extends  forward  on  joint  11.  Warts  with  a  long  hair  and  a  few 
short  ones,  wart  IV  as  large  as  any,  VI  present;  on  joint  12,  II  his 
more  hairs  than  elsewhere.  Warts  c<.iiical,  concolorous  with  the  mark- 
ings. Later  a  whitish  subdorsal  band  appears  between  warts  I  and  11 
partly  broken  by  the  brown  i)atclie8.  ' 

iitag,^  ///.-Head  square  bih)bed,  pale  greenish,  a  brown  oval  ring 
mark  on  each  side,  which  is  produced  inward  and  joins  its  fellow  at  the 
vertex;  width,  0.7  mm.  Ho.ly  as  before,  wart  I'l  with  three  or  four 
hairs,  smaller  than  wart  1. 

-S'<a//r  /  r.-Head  whitish,  clypens  green,  the  ring-shaped  marks  on 
each  lobe  strigose,  with  a  concentric  dash  above;  width,  1  {-.  ly 

pale  green,  subdorsal  band  yellowish,  dorsal  patches  as  b     -  ■  ,r 

rather  long,  partly  blackish. 

Staffe  r.-Head  whitish,  with  brown  strigose  mottlings  over  the  apex 
and  front  of  each  lobe,  except  the  green  clypens;  a  tubercule  at  the 
apex;  width  1.4  ram.  Body  as  before;  warts  tubercular  granular,  few 
haired.  Later  the  yellow  band  is  obsolete  except  bordering  the  patches ; 
tubercules  I  on  jc..,nts  6  and  7  have  a  tou<.hof  the  brown  color,  and  the 
patch  on  11,  i  -  1.  ur^^.to  before.  In  the  position  of  rest  ioint  6  is  mucth 
humped  up,  and  j.;  is  also  prominent,  tin     oad  held  down. 

mage  F/.-The  same.  Width  of  hea..,  about  2  mm.  PractioaUv  "" 
secondary  hairs. 


m  1140.        t 

Stape  VI 
iiiirrow  gr« 
mm.  Hod; 
on  joint  2, 
widening  ii 
continued  i 
patch  is  im 
on  10  to  c(i 
of  joint  11. 
and  wart  ^ 
slightly  pr 
white,  two 
one  or  two 
(lies  white, 
brownish  v 
';ru".il  form 

Food pla 


(PlttfeH    1 

Acronyctn 

(rround  < 
through  th( 
tiie  front. 
Kiae  black  i 
or  less  trac( 
extends  fro 
outer  inargi 
and  inchnl 
through  th( 
iinal  angle, 
only.  The 
ohliijue,  a  li 
through  tlu 
y\)\i  beyom 
smoky  8tre£ 
sometimes  d 
(hu'k  shade 
usually  dec 
median  inte 
line,  beyonti 
most  jiromii 
interspace, 
fringes  are  c 
the  orbicula 


rwuxxi. 

f)n,  except 
iH  Nniall, 
Ik'hr;  thd 
•H«t  to  its 
tli«  femur 
tiut  tii)iii 

JIHO.      TIm' 

'(1(1  at  tli« 
ie,  wifli  H 
ixed  witli 
in  8pecii!8 


Kopt.  U.  N. 

t  whitinli, 
(iiirk,  tiic 
priiiiaii(!,s 

a  brown 
the  (iervi- 
,  H-1),  and 
)ercle  1 1 ; 
er  brown 
nd  a  few 
2,  II  has 
be  mark- 
I  and  II, 

'val  rin^ 
)w  at  tlio 
I  or  four 

larks  on 

e,     !'  »ir 

bbe  a])('x 
ie  at  the 
liar,  few 
;)atebes ; 
and  the 
is  mueli 

cally  110 


yall4&         mtBTIf  AMERICAN  NOCTmbAK-SiaiTII  AND  M'AR. 


116 


Staqv  VII.— WmA  purplJHh  brown,  except  tlie  Kfoen  (ilypeim  and  a 
narrow  Kreen  ana  (uitside  it,  wliKbtly  mottled  with  paler;  width,  2.8 
mm.  Body  Hoft  yellowlMh  y^vvm,  a  pnrple-browti  dorsal  band,  fun-ate 
<m  jolut  U,  touehiiiK  the  warts  I  on  Joints  a  U,  7,  broken  in  the  incisures, 
widening  into  an  ellipti(!al  patch  on  joints  H  toll,  uarrowinj,'  on  12,  and 
contlnntHl  still  more  narrowly  to  the  anal  plate;  on  .i<.ints  9  to  .  I  a  green 
patch  is  inclosed  narrow  on  the  posterior  half  of  !>,  where  it  be^jins,  wide 
on  10  to  <u>ver  wart  I,  and  oc(ni)yin}'  ni(»r(^  narrowly  the  entire  length 
of  Joint  1 1.  Brown  spottings  on  the  sides,  especially  around  the  spiracle 
and  wart  VI.  Warts  snuiU,  I  on  Joints  r»  to  8  and  I  and  II  oii  12 
slightly  produced.  Ilnirs  short,  sparsis  black  from  I  to  III,  the  rest 
white,  tv  o  to  t»  n  1i  urs  on  a  wart.  Secondary  hairs  nearly  absent;  only 
one  oi  two  can  oe  distinguished  on  a  segment  subventrally.  Spira- 
cles white,  with  narrow  hhivk  border.  There  is  a  form  which  is  "  pale 
brownish  with  a  llesh  tint,  but  agreeing  in  all  its  markings  with  the 
';TvM,,i  form"  (Kdwanls  and  Mlliot). 

Food  plantH.—Ai)\\\ii,  birch,  willow,  elm,  arrowwood. 

ACRONYCTA    CONNECTA    Qrote. 
(Plat.<H  II,  Hg.  Ifl,  udult;  XVIII,  lig.  7,  polpuH;  XXI,  Jig.  4,  inalfl  K«nit.ilia.) 
Avronycta  connevta  Gkotk,  Hull.  Uiiff.  Soo.  Nut.  Sci.,  1873,  I,  p.  7!). 

(Iround  (rolor  a  dirty  yellowish  gray,  more  or  less  shot  with  n'ddish 
through  the  center  of  the  wings.  The  head  with  a  black  line  across 
the  front.  Thorax  with  a  blackish  line  at  the  base  of  the  «!ollar;  pata- 
giae  black  marked  at  the  sides.  Primaries  with  all  the  nnirkings  more 
or  less  traceable,  but  all  of  them  obscured  by  a  blackish  shade  whi(5h 
extends  from  the  base  through  the  center  of  the  wing  and  reacjhes  the 
outer  margin  above  the  anal  angle.  This  shade  is  not  well  defined, 
and  includes  the  ordinaiy  basal  black  streak  and  the  black  dash 
tlirough  th(i  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  outer  nuirgin  above  the 
anal  angle.  The  basal  line  is  geminate,  brown,  nmrked  on  the  costa 
only.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  geminate,  brown,  outwardly 
oblicpxe,  a  little  incurved  between  the  veins,  and  more  or  less  obscure 
tlirough  the  c^entral  portion  of  its  course;  sometimes  it  is  hardly  trace- 
!b\;  beyond  the  costa.  The  median  shade  is  marked  l)y  an  oblique 
smoky  streak  on  the  costa,  extending  between  the  ordinary  spots  and 
sonietimes  darkening  the  entire  sj)ace  from  that  point  to  the  longitudinal 
dark  shade.  Transverse  posterior  line  blackish,  slender,  lunulate, 
usually  denticulate  on  the  veins,  very  strongly  incurved  in  the  sub- 
median  interspace.  There  is  a  more  or  less  evident  pale  subterminal 
line,  beyond  which  the  terminal  space  is  usually  a  little  black  shaded, 
most  prominently  so  just  opposite  the  cell  and  again  in  the  submedian 
interspace.  There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the 
frineres  are  cut  with  smokv.    The  onl  iimrv  snnfa  -ira  T.ir>,.a  r...  i.^ac  «Kc.«.,„^  . 

^  »•  ■ ~ ^'  -'X -- .•,•••»    i^<7-.7  ^-f^/o^ Ml tr , 

the  orbicular,  when  traceable,  is  round  or  nearly  so,  more  or  less  marked 


116 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


a   'I 


by  blackish  scales  and  centered  with  brown;  the  reniform  quite  large, 
kidney  shaped,  defined  inwardly  by  black  scales,  but  outwardly  difluse. 
It  is  shaded  with  reddish,  which  extends  a  little  beyond  it  and  shades 
into  a  whitish  space  following  the  interval  between  it  and  the  transverse 
posterior  line.  Secondaries  smoky,  paler  at  the  base;  in  the  female 
with  an  indefined  discal  spot  and  outer  line.  Beneath  whitish,  pow- 
dery, all  wings  more  or  less  evidently  marked  with  an  outer  line  and  a 
blackish  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.25  to  1.40  inches  (31  to  35  mm.). 

7/a/nte/.— Canada  in  August;   Staten  Island,  New  York,  in  July; 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  August;  Illinois  in  July. 

This  species  is  quite  easily  recognizable  by  the  blackish  shade  which 
extends  through  the  wing  below  its  middle,  from  the  base  to  the  outer 
margin.  It  differs  altogether  from /MH6'mi/,s,  because  tlie  shade  does 
not  reach  the  internal  margin,  and  is  indefined,  shading  gradually  from 
smoky  into  the  ground  color.  The  wings  are  rather  narrow,  the  outer 
margin  a  little  obtuse.  It  varies  in  the  depth  of  the  dark  shading,  and 
sometimes  becomes  rather  confusedly  nuirked  throughout.  The  vesti- 
ture  is  a  little  rough,  and  under  the  lens  the  sciiles  are  seen  to  be  dis- 
tinctly elevated.  The  head  is  rather  small,  the  front  convex,  but  not 
bulging:  the  palpi  are  well  develo])ed  but  do  not  reach  above  the 
front.  The  legs  are  rather  slender,  the  femur  hardly  dilated,  the  tibia 
long,  with  the  epiphysis  slender  and  inserted  quite  close  to  the  base. 
The  harpes  are  broad,  somewhat  abruptly  narrowed  from  the  under 
side  to  a  rounded  tip.  The  clasper  is  very  stout,  gradually  narrowing 
to  a  coarse,  beak-like  process,  giving  rise  on  the  upper  margin  to  a 
stout,  long,  slightly  curved  process.  Ft  has  a  distinct  resemblance  in 
this  respect  to. /«Hrm/u-,  although  the  lower  process  is  altogetiier  dii- 
fereut  in  its  character. 

LARVA. 

Stage  F/.— Green  foiiu:  "  Mead  witli  a  red  stripe  at  each  upper  side, 
reaching  from  vertex  and  pointing  toward  ocelli,  diminishing  in  size 
and  becoming  darker  toward  tip.  Body  largest  in  tlie  middle,  joint  2 
somewhat  suddenly  dei)ressed  from  side  view;  dark  green,  a  broad 
subdorsal  sulphur  yellow  line"  covering  tubercle  II  and  just  passing 
outside  of  I,  "and  a  faint  subobsolete  pale  stigmatal  one;  sparsely 
covered  with  long  white  hairs."  Tubercles  I  and  II  "jet  black,  eacli 
giving  rise  to  about  one  black  hair.  Joint  2  with  two  black  markw, 
parallel,  bent  t:  t  right  angles  outward  at  the  front  end."  (Riley  mauu 
script.) 

Brown  form:  "Carneous,  the  dorsum  bluish  and  margined  each  side 
with  deep  yellow.  Dorsal  trapezoidal  spots  with  a  pale  bluish  annulu- 
tion.  Under  a  lens  the  body  is  covered  with  extremely  fine  elevated 
si)eckles,  especially  on  dorsniiu  .Joint  2  with  two  elho'.vp.d  liises,  d 
ing  in  front.    Dorsal  warts  with  black  hai 

spiracles  black."    (Riley.) 


divcrg 


Venter  inmiaculate.    Head  and  si 


the  rest  long  and  light. 


VOL.  XXI, 


quite  large, 
rdly  difluse. 
and  shades 
J  transverse 
the  female 
tiitish,  i)ow- 
V  liue  aud  a 


k,  in  July; 
uly. 

hade  which 
;o  the  outer 
shade  does 
[liially  from 
^,  the  outer 
lading,  and 

The  vesti- 
i  to  be  dis 
ex,  but  not 

above  the 
(1,  the  tibia 
o  the  base. 

the  under 

narrowing 
largin  to  a 
tnblance  in 
gether  dil- 


ipper  side, 
iug  in  size 
die,  joint  2 
1,  a  broad 
St  passing 
;  sparsely 
dack,  eacli 
ck  marks, 
iley  maiiu 

I  each  side 
sh  annula 
e  elevated 
es,  diverj: 
and  light. 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE- SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


117 


Cocoon. — "Larva  eats  into  wood,  where  it  cou.4truct8  a  cocoon." 
(Kiley.) 

Pupa. — Smooth,  light  brown,  regularly  tapering;  abdominal  segments 
coarsely  i)un(!tured  on  the  anterior  third ;  wing  cases  slightly  shagreened. 
Creniaster  flat,  thin  but  wide,  the  lateral  margin  produced  into  a  wing- 
like  plate,  blackish  on  the  edge,  smooth.  Posteriorly  the  margin  is 
tinted  aiul  double.  Hooks  slender,  pale,  recurved  at  tip,  the  upper  one 
on  each  side  on  top  of  the  plate,  the  lower  three  on  each  side  in  a  row 
situated  between  the  two  fluted  rims. 

Food  plant. — Willow. 

ACRONYCTA   BRUMOSA    Guenie, 

(Plates  XIII,  fig.  1,  female  adult;  XVII,  fig.  30,  leg;  XX,  fig.  21,  male  genitalia.) 

Acroni/cta  britmona  Gukni^;k,  8pec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852, 1,  p.  52. — Wai.kkjj,  Cat.  Brit. 

Mns.,  lilt.,  1856,  IX,  p.  .')9.— IU'tlek,  Ent.  Amcr.,  1887,  III,  p.  SQ^pcraiiaaa, 
Acronycta  imphia  Wai.keu,  ('at.  Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  57. 
Acronycta  aubochrea  Groik,  Bull.  Buff.  See.  Nat.  Sfi.,  1874,  II,  p.  1,53. 
Apatela  aubochrea  Gkotk,  Can.  Ent.,  1875,  VII,  p.  227,  pi.  i,  fig.  10.— Biitijbr, 

Ent.  Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  ^6—impieta. 

Ground  color  very  dark,  powdery,  ash  gray.  The  vestiture  on  the 
primaries  elevated.  Head  with  a  transverse  black  line  in  front,  collar 
with  a  blackish  line  inferiorly ;  the  balance  of  the  head  and  thorax  black 
])()wdered.  The  wings  are  mottled  with  smoky  brown,  which  obscures 
the  ordinary  markings.  The  basal  liue  brown,  geminate,  complete. 
Transverse  anterior  line  brown,  geminate,  tending  to  become  indis- 
tinct below  the  middle;  as  a  whole  oblique  outwardly.  In  some  dark 
specimens  the  line  becomes  black  instead  of  brown.  The  median  shade 
is  brown,  best  marked  on  the  costa,  where  it  extends  oblhjuely  into  the 
reniform,  is  there  bent  at  nearly  a  right  angle  and  then  runs  almost 
upright  to  the  internal  margin.  The  latter  part  of  its  course  is  very 
largely  obscured,  and  sometimes  altogether  wanting.  Transverse  pos- 
terior line  geminate,  the  inner  line  oidy  a  little  marked,  the  included 
space  paler  and  lunulate;  the  outer  line  consisting  of  a  series  of  black 
lunule.s,  and  as  a  whole  being  denticulated  on  the  veins.  It  is  very 
nearly  parallel  with  the  outer  margin  and  only  a  little  sinuated.  The 
subterniinal  line  is  pale,  irregular,  broken,  and  difHuso.  The  terminal 
space  is  crossed  between  the  veins  by  black  streaks,  opposite  which 
tUe  fringes  are  cut  with  blackish.  There  is  a  brown  shading  below  the 
median  vein  from  the  base  to  the  transverse  anterior  line,  but  no  dis- 
tinct basal  streak.  There  is  a  S'lnilar  shading  opposite  the  cell,  and 
another  opposite  the  anal  angle,  taking  the  i)lace  of  the  ordinary 
streaks,  which  in  some  cases  may  be  faintly  traced.  Between  the 
transverse  anterior  and  median  lines  there  is  a  black  streak  Just  above 
the  internal  vein.  The  ordinary  spots  are  traceable,  of  good  size,  but 
not  proraiiient:  tl>e  orbicular  round  or  nearly  so,  black  ringed:  the 
reniform  large  kidney  shaped,  obscured  by  black  scales.    Secondaries 


|5l 


118 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


i 


yellowish  white  in  the  male,  smoky  yellow  in  the  female.    Beneath 
yellowish  white,  powdered,  with  the  usual  outer  line  and  discal  spots, 
more  or  less  well  marked. 
Expanse,  1.28  to  1.60  inches  (32  to  40  mm.). 

i?aW<flt— Canada,  southward  to  Virginia,  west  to  the  Kooky  Moun- 
tains; Ontario  in  .Tulyj  Now  York,  May  and  .June;  Washington,  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  in  August;  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  in  June; 
Eacine,  Wisconsin ;  Garfield  County,  Colorado,  7,000  feet. 

This  species  is  recognizable  without  much  trouble  by  the  very  dark 
mottled  primaries,  and  by  the  equally  dark,  smoky  secondaries.    The 
primaries  are  more  than  usually  parallel,  and  rather  narrow.    These 
points,  together  with  the  elevated  vestiture  on  the  primaries,  will  make 
the  species  recognizable.    There  is  little  variation;  some  specimens 
are  darker  than  others,  in  some  the  lines  are  black  rather  than  brown, 
and  in  some  the  smoky  suffusion  is  more  distinct  than  in  others.    The 
species  here  identified  as  brumosa  is  what  was  described  by  Mr.  Grote 
as  suhochrm.    The  original  description  will  fit  eitlier  one  of  two  or 
three  species,  and  this  reference,  which  is  so  different  from  any  that 
has  been  heretofore  made,  is  largely  due  to  the  suggestion  made  by 
Dr.  Dyar  from  the  larval  characters  given.     Mr.  Butler  thought  the 
species  to  be  pcrsnam;  but  the  description  will  not  allow  this  refer 
ence.    It  is  possible  to  mistake  subochrm  for  a  rubbed  pernuasa,  and  1 
believe  Mr.  Butler's  reference  to  be  based  upon  an  erroneous  determi 
nation  or  a  bad  specimen.    The  head  is  of  very  good  size,  though  not 
prominent,  the  front  bulging,  the  palpi  reaching  to  the  middle  and  dis- 
tinct.   The  genitalia  of  the  male  are  unique;  the  harpes  are  rather 
narrow,  long,  a  little  dilated  just  before  the  tip;  the  clasper  is  broad, 
looking  somewhat  like  a  mitten  with  an  unusually  long  thumb  project 
ing  from  the  upper  side;  from  the  upper  margin  there  is  also  a  very 
long,  slender,  straight  process.    We  have  here  an  almost  perfect  inter- 
mediate type  between  what  may  be  considered  the  typical  loheliae  form 
on  the  one  hand  and  the  form  usual  in  the  persiiasa  group  on  the  other. 
The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  is  well  developed,  although  not  unusually 
long.    The  femur  is  a  little  dilated  toward  base;  the  tibia  is  stout,  with 
the  epiphysis  inserted  above  the  middle. 


LARVA. 

GuKNKE,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  52  (hamameUa).— By ar,  Can.  Ent.,  1894, 
XXVI,  p.  18  (siihovhrea). 

Stage  J/f.— Head  subquadrate,  lobes  pointed;  pale  whitish  with 
eight  brown  spots,  one  covering  the  eyes,  one  before  the  apex  of  each 
lobe,  and  two  smaller  ones  respectively  above  and  below  the  other  two; 
width,  about  1  mm.  Body  deeply  incised  between  the  segments. 
Warts  concolorous,  l\  obsolete.  L»ale  translucent  yellowish,  a  white 
subdorsal  line  below  wart  If.  Warts  If  and  III  on  joint  2  and  II  on 
joint  3  brown.  Brown  patches  dorsally  on  joints  5,  8,  and  9,  and  irreg- 
ular cues  ou  joints  11  aud  12.    Uairs  sparse,  flue,  blackish. 


VOL.  XXI. 


e.    Beneath 
tliscal  spots, 


lOcky  Moun- 
ington,  Bis- 
a,  in  June; 


le  very  dark 
laries.  The 
row.  These 
s,  will  make 
i  speciraeuis 
bhan  brown, 
thers.  The 
y  Mr.  Grote 
B  of  two  or 
jm  any  that 
ou  made  by 
thought  the 
V  this  refer 
uiasa,  and  1 
ms  deternii 
though  not 
die  and  dis 

are  rather 
er  is  broad, 
inb  project 
also  a  very 
irfect  inter- 
'jbcliae  form 
u  the  other. 
b  unusually 

stout,  with 


1.  Ent.,  1894, 

litish   with 
pex  of  each 

other  two; 

segments, 
ih,  a  white 
I  and  II  on 
,  and  irreg- 


No.nw.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


119 


Stage  IF.— Head  as  before,  but  the  lobes  less  pointed;  upper  spot 
twice  indented;  width,  1.5  mm.  Body  incised  between  the  segments, 
joint  12  slightly  enlarged.  Pale  green,  marked  as  before.  Hair  short, 
blackish  dorsally,  fine  and  scant.    Length,  9  mm. 

Stage  V. — Head  much  as  before,  the  mark  over  the  eye  connected 
with  the  one  above  it,  mottled,  diffuse;  width,  probably  2.6  mm.  Body 
•ireenish,  similar  to  the  next  stage. 

Stage  VI. — Head  bilobed,  pale,  with  brown  mottled  spots  on  the  face 
of  the  lobes,  except  in  the  middle  of  each  at  vertex;  width,  4  mm. 
Body  higher  than  wide,  slightly  enlarged  at  joints  5-6  and  12,  these 
])arts  humped  up  in  the  position  of  rest.  Olive  green,  paler  subven- 
trally,  a  broad  yellowish  white  dorsal  band,  somewhat  pinkish  tinted, 
reaching  to  wart  Til,  broken  by  a  large  dark  brown  spot  on  joints  5, 
8,  9,  and  12,  the  spots  diffuse  at  the  edge.  A  fainter  similar  mark  on 
joint  3  and  on  joint  11  below  wart  II.  Warts  I  to  III  small,  with  few 
short  hairs;  IV  to  VI  small,  more  flattened  and  diffuse,  with  pale  hairs; 
a  few  long  hairs  at  the  extremities.  Secondary  hairs  very  weak,  a  few 
present  in  the  subveutral  region.    Length,  4.'}  mm. 

Karely  there  is  a  brown  form,  but  I  have  no  notes  on  it. 

Cocoon. — Made  of  silk  and  bits  of  wood  or  other  material  on  which 
it  may  be  built. 

Vupa. — Shining  brown;  length,  21  mm. 

Food  plant. — Witch  hazel. 

ACRONYCTA  SUPERANS  Guenee. 

(Plates  I,  fig.  6,  adult;  XVIII,  fig.  24,  leg;  XXI,  fig.  1,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronycta  superana  Guenke,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  53. — Walker,  Cat. 

Brit.  MuH.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  59.— Bethune,  Can.  Ent.,  1869,  I,  p.  85. 
Apatela  suporana  Mourison,  Psyche,  1875, 1,  p.  42. 
Hyboma  superana  Grote,  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesli.,  No.  3,  1896,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  a  very  pale  ash  gray,  or  almost  whitish.  Head  with 
the  front  black  or  nearly  so,  and  a  black  or  brown  line  above  the  anten- 
nae. Collar  with  a  blackish  line  at  the  base,  and  also  black  tipped. 
The  patagiae  are  also  sprinkled  Avith  black  scales.  Primaries  very 
strongly  marked  with  black  or  brownish  shades,  which  in  a  general  way 
extend  first  from  the  base  through  the  submedian  space  to  the  outer 
margin  just  above  the  anal  angle,  and,  second,  from  the  costa  down- 
ward between  the  ordinary  spots,  including  the  reniforin  and  joining 
the  longitudinal  shade.  A  blotchy  shade  extends  from  the  transverse 
posterior  line  to  the  outer  margin  opposite  the  cell.  These  shadings 
vary  in  intensity  and  obscure  tlie  ordinary  markings.  The  basal  line 
is  black,  geminate,  marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  anterior  line 
black  or  brown,  geminate,  the  outer  line  more  or  less  broken  and  quite 
well  separated  from  the  inner,  which  is  obscure  through  the  shaded 
portion  of  the  wing.  As  a  whole,  the  line  forms  two  outcurves  and  is  a 
little  drawn  in  at  its  center.    The  median  shade  is  obscured  by  the 


u 


120 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL,  XXI. 


NO.  1140, 


1, : 


blackish  shading,  but  is  tracieable  in  some  specimens,  and  is  then 
found  to  extend  obU(iuely  from  the  costa  tlirough  the  reniform,  then 
bent  inward  to  form  the  outer  margin  of  the  blackish  shade  as  far  as  it 
extends.    It  is  evident  in  the  form  of  a  lunule  ou  the  internal  margin. 
The  transverse  posterior  line  is  geminate,  the  inner  line  even,  powdery, 
and  continuous;  the  outer  line  lunulate,  dentate  ou  the  veins,  and 
emphasized  by  tlie  included  pale  shading.    The  lino  is  interrupted  by 
the  longitudinal  shade.    There  is  a  pale,  irregular,  more  or  less  ilf 
defined  subterminal  line,  which  is  interrupted  opposite  the  cell  and 
above  the  anal  angle.    The  terminal  space  is  marked  with  blackish 
between  the  veins.    There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  lunules,  beyoiul 
which  the  interlined  fringes  are  cut  with  smoky.    The  ordinary  spots 
are  traceable;  the  orbicular  round,  of  the  pale  ground  color,  ringed  by 
blackish  scales  and  centered  by  blackish;  the  reniform  large,  kidney- 
shaped,  but  obscured  by  tlie  transverse  shading.    At  the  base  of  the 
wings  there  is,  iiiferior]y,a  contrasting  yellow  patch,  on  which  is  massed 
a  tuft  of  long  scales  which  give  the  wing  a  very  characteristic  appear- 
ance.    Secondaries  smoky  in  both  sexes;  in  the  males  a  little  paler. 
Beneath,  very  pale  yellowish,  powdery,  both  wings  with  a  very  distinct 
discal  dot  and  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.60  to  1.80  inches  (40  to  45  mm.). 

^aftifflt— Canada,  southward  to  Washington,  District  of  Columbia 
west  to  the  Mississippi  and  Central  States;  Canada  and  New  York, 
June  and  July. 

This  is  a  very  strongly  marked  species  which  can  not  be  easily  mis- 
taken for  anything  else.    It  is  a  large  form  and  broader  winged  than  usual, 
the  primaries  being  more  nearly  triangular  than  in  those  immediately 
associated  with  it.    The  peculiar  markings  give  it  a  blotchy  appear- 
ance.   A  broad  streak  running  from  the  base  to  the  outer  margin, 
joined  by  a  broad  baud  from  the  middle  of  the  costa,  gives  us  a  pale 
space  at  the  base,  another  one  toward  the  tip,  and  a  narrow  pale  line 
along  the  inner  margin,  all  of  these  spaces,  however,  being  broken  by 
blackish.    Finally,  the  peculiar  patch  of  yellow  scales  at  the  inferior 
base  of  the  wing  is  quite  characteristic;.    The  fore  legs  of  the  male  are 
unusually  long  and  slender;  the  femur  a  little  dilated  just  before  the 
middle,  the  tibia  with  a  very  large  epiphysis  inserted  rather  close  to 
the  base.    The  harpes  of  tiie  male  are  very  long,  narrow,  nearly  equal, 
and  round  at  the  tip.    The  clasper  is  very  well  developed,  unusually 
rolled  together,  the  finger-like  process  from  the  upper  angle  very  Ion" 
and  not  much  curved,  the  process  from  the  upper  margin  toward  base 
short  and  rather  stout.    The  species  seems  to  be  not  at  all  uncommon 
The  front  is  bulging  and  a  little  inflated.    The  palpi  rather  short  and 
scarcely  reaching  to  its  middle. 


VOL.  XXI. 

ai)d  is  then 
sniform,  tluMi 
le  as  far  as  it 
riial  margin, 
en,  powdery, 
e  veins,  and 
terrnptod  by 
)  or  less  ill 
the  cell  and 
ith  blackish 
ules,  beyond 
dinary  spots 
n;  ringed  by 
rge,  kidney 
base  of  the 
eh  is  niassed 
stic  appear- 
little  paler, 
ery  distinct 


f  Columbia, 
New  York, 

(easily  mis- 
i  than  usual, 
tnmediately 
shy  appear- 
:er  margin, 
3s  us  a  pale 
>w  pale  line 
:  broken  by 
;he  inferior 
le  male  are 
1  before  the 
ler  close  to 
arly  equal, 
.  unusually 
i  very  long 
)ward  base 
mcommon. 
•  short  and 


No.n40.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUtDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


121 


LARVA. 

Lk  Baron,  First  Rept.  111.  State  Entom.,  1871,  p.  52. — Martkn,  Trans.  Dept. 
Agr.,  111.,  1880,  XVIII,  p.  131.— Cowuillktt,  Papilio,  1881, 1,  p.  (J.— Saunders, 
Ins.  Inj.  Fruits,  1883,  p.  166,  figs.  174,  175. 

Stage  II. — Head  white  with  four  black  dots  on  each  lobe,  one  on  the 
side,  one  on  the  eye,  and  one  beside  the  clypeus ;  width,  O.G  mm.  Body 
white  with  dark  brown  patches  dorsally  on  joints  2,  5,  8-1),  and  12. 
Warts  black;  a  narrow,  white  dorsal  line.  The  warts  bear  a  long  seta 
and  bushy  crown  of  small  hairs  with  enlarged  ends;  a  few  secondary 
hairs.    Joint  12  with  warts  I  and  II  in  a  square. 

Stage  III. — Head  white  with  black  spots  as  before;  lobes  pointed; 
width,  0.9  mm.  Body  white,  the  warts  all  black,  pointed  conic  with 
;i  crown  of  hairs,  thickly  covered  with  short  secondary  hairs  with 
enlarged  tips.  Dorsum  broadly  streaked  with  dark  brown,  cut  by 
dorsal  and  subdorsal  wliite  lines.     Hairs  black  and  white. 

Stage  IV. — Head  bilobe«l,  whitish,  a  large  mottled  black  patch  below 
the  vertex  divided  centrally,  one  over  the  eye,  and  another  close  to  it 
beside  the  clypeus;  width,  1.7  mm.  Body  greenish  witli  a  series  of 
dark  dorsal  segmentary  patches.  Warts  dark,  those  on  tlie  sides  nar- 
rowly so.    Primary  and  secondary  hairs  much  as  before. 

Stage  V. — Head  dotted  with  black  down  the  face,  cut  across  the  mid- 
dle by  a  pale  whitish  band;  apices  of  lobes  pale  brown;  width,  2.5  ram. 
Body  green,  a  chocolate  brown  dorsal  stripe  reaching  wart  II,  narrow 
on  joint  13,  but  reaching  the  anal  plate,  broadened  on  the  cervical 
shield.    Hairs  few,  black  and  white. 

Stage  VI. — Head  brown  at  the  ai)ices  of  the  lobes,  shading  into  pink- 
ish below,  mottled  with  black  spots,  especially  on  the  front  angles  and 
in  a  triangular  patch  on  the  ocelli,  sides  and  labrum  nearly  white; 
Avidth,  3.7  to  4  mm.  Body  higher  than  wide,  joint  12  angularly  ele- 
vated, pointed;  soft  green,  a  narrow,  rather  faint,  yellow  subdorsal 
line  just  below  wart  II  borders  a  velvety,  brownish  black  dorsal  space, 
narrowed  at  the  incisures  of  joints  5  to  11  and  a  little  at  joint  12,  con- 
tinued very  narrowly  to  the  end  of  the  body,  widened  on  the  cei  vical 
sliield.  Spiracles  white  with  black  rim.  Olaspers  of  feet  pinkish. 
Warts  low  with  only  two  or  three  hairs,  I  to  III  black,  IV  to  VI  pale, 
only  one  hair  from  IV,  many  short  ones  trom  V  and  VI.  Some  pale 
secondary  hairs  subventrally.  The  dorsal  hairs  are  long,  though 
sparse. 

Food  plants. — Sugar  plum,  apple,  birch,  mountain  ash. 


it 


A: 


122 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  tUO. 


ACRONYCTA  SPINIGERA  Guente. 
(Plates  XII,  flg.T),  female  adult;  XVII,  fig, 26,  leg;  XX,  flg.  1»,  male  genitalia.) 

Aeronycta  apinUjera  Gi;en^:e,  Spec.  Gen.,  Tsovt.,  1852, 1,  p.  45,— Walker,  Cat.  Brit. 

MuH.,  Het.,  185(5,  IX,  p,  55,— Smith,  Bull.  U.  8.  Nat.  Muh.  No.  44, 1893,  p.  39. 
Apatila  spinigera Qrotk,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  39;  Bull,  U.  8.  Geol,  Siirv    1883  VI 

p,  572.  '         '      ' 

Apatda  harveijana  Guotk,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Soi.  Phila.,  1875,  p.  418;  111,  Essay,  188i, 

J).  39,  npini{/era  Walker  in  part. 

Ground  color  a  very  pale  aaheii  gray,  with  a  slightly  yellowish  tinge. 
Thorax  with  a  smoky  line  near  the  tip,  and  a  more  or  less  obviou.s 
smoky  margin  to  the  patagiae.     Sometimes  a  smoky  line  crosses  tlie 
front  below   the  antennae.    The  wings   have  the   vestiture  slightly 
elevated,  and  there  i.s  a  considerable  covering  of  smoky  scales,  which 
occasionally  darkens  the  wing.    The  ordinary  markings  are  well  writ- 
ten.   The  basal  line  is  distinct,  geminate,  and  usually  reaches  to  the 
basal  dash.     The  transverse  anterior  line  is  brown  or  black,  distinctly 
geminate,  and  as  a  whole  outwardly  oblique,  very  little  irregular.    The 
median  shade  line  is  well  marked  over  the  costa,  extending  obliquely 
into  the  reniform.    From  that  point  it  runs  a  little  inward  to  the  inner 
margin,  but  is  much  fainter,  and  in  some  caces  altogether  wanting. 
The  transverse  posterior  line  is  geminate,  the  inner  portion  very  faint 
and  sometimes  scarcely  marked,  the  intervening  space  whitish,  the 
outer  line  black,  lunulate,  and  more  or  less  denticulate  on  the  veins. 
As  a  whole  it  is  squarely  bent  over  the  cell  and  deeply  incurved  oppo- 
site the  anal  angle.    There  is  an  irregular,  diffuse,  subterminal  line, 
which  is  pale  and  variably  marked  through  the  terminal  space.    There 
may  or  may  not  be  a  series  of  blackish  spots,  most  evident  toward  the 
apex  of  the  Aving.    There  is  a  series  of  terminal  dots,  beyond  which 
the  Triuges  are  also  marked  with  dusky.     There  is  a  slender  black 
streak  at  the  base,  extending  to  the  inner  portion  of  the  transverse 
anterior  line,  but  not  across  it  in  any  specimen  that  I  have  seen.     Just 
opposite  the  cell  there  is  a  black  line  which  extends  from  the  subter- 
minal line  inward,  and  indents  the  transverse  posterior  line,  but  does 
not  cross  it  in  any  of  the  specimens  before  me.    A  slender  black  line 
extends  inwardly  through  the  submedian  interspace  and  across  the 
transverse  posterior  line  at  that  point.    The  ordinary  spots  are  well 
marked  and  of  moderate  size;  the  orbicular  round  or  nearly  so,  black 
ringed,  sometimes  with  a  smoky  center;  the  reniform  kidney  shaped, 
distinctly  black  ringed,  with  a  more  or  less  well-marked  smoky  center. 
The  secondaries  are  smoky  in  the  male,  a  little  paler  at  base;  in  the 
female  more  dusky  throughout.    Beneath  whitish,  powdery,  the  prima 
ries  often  a  little  smoky  on  the  disk;  both  wings  with  a  more  or  less 
obvious  outer  line  and  discal  lunule. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.80  inches  (37  to  45  mm.). 

Eahitat. — Maine  to  Texas;  west  to  the  Mississippi?  New  York  in 
Juuej  Wisconsin;  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  May  22. 


VOL.  XXI. 


ale  genitalia.) 

KER,  Cat.  Brit. 
44, 1803,  p.  3{». 
iurv.,  1883,  VI, 

11.  Essay,  188-, 


owish  tinge, 
less  obvious 

crosses  the 
ure  slightly 
cales,  wbich 
re  well  writ- 
iclies  to  tli(! 
k,  distinctly 
gular.  The 
ig  obliquely 
to  the  inner 
er  wanting, 
n  very  faint 
vhitish,  the 
n  the  veins, 
urved  oppo 
rminal  line, 
ace.    There 

toward  the 
youd  which 
snder  black 

transverse 
seen.     Just 

the  subter 
le,  but  docs 
["  black  line 

across  the 
>ts  are  well 
ly  so,  black 
ley  shaped, 
oky  center, 
•ase;  in  the 
,  the  prinui- 
lore  or  less 


>wr    Vr»rlr  ii> 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


123 


This  species  is  recognizable  among  those  with  the  elevated  vestiture 
by  the  very  neat  black  dashes  and  the  general  distinctness  of  the 
markings.  It  is  thus  easily  differentiated  from  pruiii,  which  is  its 
nearest  ally,  and  than  Avhich  it  is  also  a  little  larger.  Mr.  Grote  never 
positively  identified  the  ftpinUjera  of  (iuen^e,  and  generally  specimens 
of  .ryliniformis  have  been  marked  in  collections  with  this  name.  ]\Ir. 
(liote  mentions,  however,  that  in  the  Hritisb  Museum  there  is  a  speci- 
men of  Jiarveyana  under  a  spiniyera  label,  and  therefore  Mr.  Walker's 
spinU/era  has  been  cited  to  harvcyana  as  a  synonym.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  Guen^e's  description  leaves  no  doubt  that  Walker  was  right  in  his 
identification,  if  indeed  the  name  was  not  really  attached  by  Guence 
himself.  The  description  fits  this  species  completely,  and  fits  nothing 
else;  therefore  I  believe  the  British  Museum  specimen  to  be  correctly 
named. 

The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  is  unusually  developed ;  the  femur  is 
very  stout  and  abruptly  narrowed  toward  the  tip.  The  tibia  is  short, 
stout,  ami  the  epiphysis  is  very  small  and  inserted  at  just  about  the 
middle.  The  head  is  moderate,  a  little  convex,  but  not  bulging,  the 
palpi  easily  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  front,  and  sometimes  nearly 
to  the  vertex.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  broad,  quite  regularly  nar- 
rowing toward  the  tip,  where  they  are  rounded.  The  dasper  is  stout, 
of  moderate  length,  the  upper  process  unusually  strong  and  curved. 
I'rom  the  middle  of  the  ui)per  margin  is  an  upward,  finger-like  process 
of  moderate  length,  and  dirccjtly  opposite  on  the  lower  margin  is  an 
irregular,  knob-like  structure,  which  is  furnished  with  a  few  little 
bristles.  This  species  does  not  seem  to  be  a  common  one,  and  I  have 
no  very  large  number  of  specimens  for  comparison. 

ACRONYCTA  PRUNI  Harris. 

(Plates  IV,  fig.  4,  adult;   VII,  figs.  22,  23,  larva;   XVII,  fig.  27,  leg;   XVIII,  fig.  8, 
palpus;  XX,  fig.  20,  uiale  genitalia.) 

Aeronycta  pruni  Harris,  Ent.  Corrosp.  1869,  p.  313,  pi.  iv,  fig,  13.— Smith, 
Bull'.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mu8.,  No.  44,  1893,  p.  44. 

A2mtela  clarescf.iis  (inoTE,  in  li.sts  and  coll. — Harvey,  Bull.  Buflf.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci., 
1875,  III,  p.  4. — BUTLKK,  Ent.  Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  36,  an  sp.  dist.  clarescena 
Gueni^o.— Smith,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mas.,  No.  44,  1893,  p.  44,  pr.  syn. 

Ground  color  a  pale  whitish  gray,  more  or  less  black  powdered  and 
a  little  tinged  with  a  greenish  yellow  in  well-marked  specimens.  Head 
with  a  blackish  line  below  the  antennae.  Thorax  with  a  blackish  line 
Just  below  the  tip,  and  a  little  tuft  of  yellow  scales  on  the  disk  Just 
behind  the  collar.  This  tuft  is  very  distinct  in  the  males,  but  has  a 
tendency  to  disappear  in  the  females.  The  primaries  with  the  vesti- 
ture elevated,  and  the  markings  all  more  or  less  indistinct  and  obscure. 
Uasal  line  geminate,  blackish,  Avell  marked  on  the  costa,  and  generally 
to  the  basal  streak.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  blackish,  out- 

aiUiy  UUnqitc,  it  iillJC  uuLt^Ui  veil   lix   lilt;  iin.l;i  optivCa,  ILuMiiij^  iv  !,'\.-„iJi>t^^ 

obsolete  below  the  basal  streak.    The  median  shade  is  marked  on  the 


124 


PROCEEmNC.S  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vouxxt. 


|4» 


i 


i   II 


f 
t 


costa  and  extended  into  the  reniforni;  but  below  that  point  it  is  very 
vaH:iioly  indicated,  in  some  8pecinien,s  traceable  as  a  brownish  shade  td 
the  internal  niar^nn.  Transverse  posterior  line  gemiiiate,  the  inner 
portion  iisuuliy  more  or  less. obscure  and  a  little  denticulate  on  the 
veins;  the  interveninjr  space  consists  of  whitish  hinules.  There  is  an 
irre{?ular,  pale,  subtermlnal  line,  beyond  which  the  terminal  space  Is 
marked  with  bhu^kish  between  the  veins,  and  a  little  dart  extends 
inwardly  opposite  the  cell,  indicating  the  ordinary  blaiik  streak  at  thiif, 
point;  but  this  is  quite  usually  wanting,  and  the  streak  is  never  dis- 
tinct. There  is  a  basal  black  streak  which  extends  through  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line  aiul  is  shaded  beneath  with  blackish.  A  dagger 
mark  extends  through  the  transverse  posterior  line  and  reaches  The 
outer  margin  above  the  anal  angle.  Tills  also  is  accompanied  by  a 
diffuse  blackish  shade,  usually  above  the  streak.  The  ordinary  spots 
are  of  moderate  size,  not  very  well  defined,  more  or  less  completely 
outlined  by  black  scales;  tlie  orbicidar  is  round  or  nearly  so,  of  the 
ground  color;  the  reniform  is  kidney-shaped  and  may  be  a  little  marked 
with  yellowish.  The  secondaries  are  dirty  whitish  in  the  male;  more 
smoky  or  yellowish  in  the  female.  Beneath,  the  wings  are  powdery, 
the  primaries  with  the  disk  smoky,  secondaries  with  a  distinct  discal 
spot,  both  wings  with  an  outer  line  which  is  much  more  distinct  on  the 
secondaries. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.72  inches  (35  to  43  mm.). 

Jrahitat.—l^ova  Scotia,  southwest  to  Texas,  west  to  Kansas;  Ne- 
braska; Central  New  York,  May  to  July;  New  Jersey,  May  and  June; 
Texas,  March  15  to  28;  Kansas,  in  May, 

This  species  is,  in  most  instances,  easily  distinguishable  by  the  little 
tuft  of  yellow  scales  just  behind  the  collar,  combined  with  the  elevated 
vestlture  and  the  general  pattern  of  the  wing.  In  the  female  there  is  a 
tuft  of  hair-like  scales,  varying  from  yellow  to  black,  visible  between 
two  of  the  segments  near  the  tip  of  the  abdomen.  As  a  rule  these  hairs 
are  yellow ;  but  they  may  vary  all  the  way  to  blackish.  It  is  the  only 
instance  known  to  me  of  a  character  of  this  kind  in  the  genus,  and  I 
have  not,  unfortunately,  examined  a  fresli  specimen  to  study  the  char- 
acters closely.  Judging  by  the  dried  specimens  it  seems  probable  that 
the  insect  has  the  power  to  extend  these  tufts,  one  of  Avhich  is  clearly 
set  on  each  side  of  the  middle  on  the  upper  surface.  The  tufts  arc 
between  the  sixth  and  seventh  apparent  dorsal  segments.  The  legs  of 
the  male  are  moderately  developed,  the  femur  quite  even  and  not  at 
all  dilated;  the  tibia  stout  and  short,  with  a  small  epiphysis  situated 
above  the  middle.  The  whole  structure,  therefore,  is  entirely  unlike 
the  closely  allied  siriimjera.  The  harpes  are  moderate  in  length  and 
strongly  dilated  at  the  tip,  which  is  round,  and  the  clasper  has  both 
angles  produced,  so  that  it  becomes  somewhat  fork-like,  the  lower 
angle  being  longer  than  the  upper.  Prom  the  upper  margin  is  a  slen- 
der, straight  process  of  moderate  size.  As  a  whole,  the  species  is  a 
very  well  marked  one,  and  resembles  nothing  as  closely  as  itself. 


NH   11«0, 


VOL.  xxr. 

at  it  is  very 
iH]i  shade  to 
e,  tlie  inner 
ilate  on  the 

There  is  an 
lal  .space  is 
lart  extends 
reak  at  that 
8  never  (lis- 
[h  tlie  trans- 
.  A  dagger 
reaches  tlie 
pauied  by  a 
linary  spots 

completely 
ly  HO,  of  the 
ittle  marked 
male;  more 
re  powdery, 
tinct  discal 
tinct  on  the 


wansas;  Nc- 
y  and  June: 


t)y  the  little 
he  elevated 
lie  there  is  a 
ale  between 
these  liairs 

is  the  only 
3nus,  and  1 
y  the  cUai- 
obable  that 
h  is  clearly 
le  tufts  are 
The  legs  of 
and  not  at 
lis  situated 
rely  unlike 
length  and 
V  has  botli 

the  lower 
n  is  a  slen- 
pecies  is  a 
;self. 


Nu.  114U. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAli— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


125 


LARVA. 

Hauris,  Ent.  Oorresp.,  1869,  p.  313,  pi.  IV,  flg.  13  (prwnt).— French,  Can.  Knt., 
1895,  XXVII,  p.  332  {»pini(iera), 

Staffe  TIL — Head  sharply  bilobed,  light  green,  with  three  red-brown 
l)ands  on  each  lobe,  the  first  with  an  angle  above  reaching  nearly  to 
(lie  vertex  of  the  lobe;  second  short,  lower  down;  third  on  the  side, 
long  furcate  below,  one  branch  covering  the  ocelli ;  width,  about  1.3  mm. 
r.ody  light  green,  a  dark-brown  dorsal  band  reaching  to  wart  T,  inclos- 
ing wart  II  on  joints  T),  H,  !).  Dorsal  warts  on  Joints  .'i  to  7  high,  on 
joints  12  also  high,  especially  wart  II;  I  and  U  in  a  square.  Hairs 
rather  numerous,  dark  from  warts  I  and  II,  the  rest  pale;  softer  sub- 
ventrally,  with  a  few  secondary  ones.    A  faint  i)ale  subdorsal  line. 

Sfaf/e  IV. — As  before;  width  of  head,  about  2  mm.  There  is  now  no 
inojecticm  on  the  dorsal  band  at  joint  5;  it  contains  a  pale  dorsal  line. 

Stage  V. — Head  greenish  on  the  dypeus  and  sides,  face  of  the  lobes 
pink,  banded  as  before,  the  spaces  tilled  with  brown  mottling  so  as  to 
obscure  the  jMittern;  width,  about  3  mm.  Body  hunched  up  at  joints 
.'i-T,  12  sharply  elevated,  especially  at  wart  II.  Wart  I  on  Joints  3  to  7 
and  12  and  II  on  12  are  elongated;  the  others  low  rounded,  all  with  a 
small  crown  of  hairs.  A  few  soft  secondary  liairs  laterally  and  sub- 
ventrally.  Sides  green,  Avith  a  whitish  cast  below,  white  dotted.  Dor- 
sal band  brown,  with  pale  central  line,  and  pale  yellow  borders  not 
(juite  contiguous  to  it;  broad  on  Joint  2,  only  a  double  line  over  wart 
1  and  joint  3  to  7,  suddenly  widened  to  wart  II  on  joints  8-9,  Just 
covering  wart  I  on  joints  10  to  12,  continued  to  anal  plate.  Dorsal 
hairs  dark. 

Sta(/e  VI. — Green  form:  "Bright  green,  the  lateral  tubercles  scarcely 
discoloring  the  sides,  slightly  yellowish  green.  A  dorsal  dark  reddish- 
purple  stripe,  nearly  as  wide  as  the  head,  on  the  anterior  part  of  joint  2, 
about  half  as  wide  on  3,  narrow  on  4  to  7,  expanding  in  two  ellipses  on 
S  and  9,  the  rest  of  the  way  narrow.  From  2  to  back  of  tubercles  on  3 
the  stripe  is  bordered  on  each  side  by  clear  white,  colored  a.  little  with 
jiTcen  on  8  and  9,  with  a  faint  greenish  central  line.  Head  rosy  red, 
whitish  on  the  sides,  with  three  rows  of  black  spots."    (French.) 

The  brown  form  is  the  more  common.  Head  with  clypeus  green,  the 
lobes  mottled  with  black  and  red  on  a  white  ground,  the  lines  broken 
into  patches  of  segregated  dots;  width,  3.8  mm.  Body  clear  velvety 
j;reenish  brown.  Dorsal  band  vinous  brown,  conspicuously  edged  on 
joints  2  and  3,  with  white;  very  narrow  and  passing  above  tubercle  I, 
then  broadened  to  II  on  joints  8-9,  reaching  over  I  on  joint  10,  and 
mottled  with  salmon  color,  vinous  on  joint  13.  Tubercles  I  on  joints  3 
to  7  and  I  and  II  on  12  are  ])roduced,  red; "the  others  small,  coucolor- 
ous.  Hair  black;  a  central  hair  and  crown  of  small  ones  around  it;  a 
lew  secondary  hairs  subventrally.  Spiracles  white,  with  black  border. 
Length,  30  mm. 


126 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIOXJL  MUSEUM. 


VOU  XXI. 


Coeoon.-Viivt\y  bored  In  soft  wood  and  formed  <,f  silk  and  chips  ,.f 

Pupa.-Utd.hnmu,  smooth,  shining,  abdominal  sogments  taperlne 
coarsely  densely  pun..t..red  on  the  anterior  third,  mostly  in  the  poste' 
nor  half  of  the  in.dsures;  wing  cases  grooved  and  shagreened.  Ore 
n.aster  low,  ronnded,  sessile,  not  scnlptnred  nor  dirterentiated  from  th.- 
pupa  m  color ;  two  long  spines  on  either  side,  scarcely  curved,  crossing 
ea<,h  other  at  the  tips,  smooth,  blackish,  the  two  ,)airs  remote,  probably 
corresponding  to  the  lower  row.     Length,  20  mm. 

Food  plants.— A\,iAe,  mountain  ash,  wild  cherry,  cherry,  plum. 


Group  PERSUASA. 

The  species  referred  to  this  group  agree  perfectly  in  the  form  of  the 
male  genitalia,  and  difter  sharply  from  any  species  in  any  other  gronp 
The  clasper  is  broad,  nearly  flat  ami  corneous,  but  is  not  separated' 
from  the  side  piece  or  harpe,  being  united  by  its  superior  edge  to  the 
u.ferior  edge  of  the  membraneous  structure.  We  get  thus  the  appear- 
anceof  a  pair  of  unusually  wide  harpes,  abruptly  narrowing  near  to 
the  tip,  and  infenorly  much  more  highly  chitinized.  From  the  upper 
margin  of  the  clasper  there  arises  at  the  tip  a  stout,  slightly  curved 
beak-hke  process,  and  from  the  middle  of  the  upper  margin  comes  a 
hnger-l.ke  process  which  is  usually  longer,  much  more  slender,  and  a 
little  curved  or  bent.  ' 

Superficially  the  species  are  much  alike  and  tend,  in  appearance,  on 
the  one  hand  to  s,>pemns  in  the  lobeliae  group,  and  to  hamamelis  in  the 
group  of  that  name  on  the  other. 

The  priinaries  are  trigonate,  widening  quite  evenly,  the  inner  margin 
not  greatly  shorter  than  the  costa,  and  the  outer  .,uite  evenly  arcuate 
to  the  rectangular  tip.  The  maculation  is  suffused  and  obscured  by 
the  elevated  scales,  which  leave  no  lines  or  dashes  distinct,  and  the 
on  y  prominent  bit  of  ornamentation  in  all  the  species  is  the  white  or 
pale  gray,  round  orbicular,  in  which  there  is  always  a  smoky  central  dot 

Affltctam  recognizable  by  being  very  dark  smoky  or  black,  with  all 
the  markings  broken  up  and  only  vaguely  traceable.  The  white 
orbicu  ar  is  the  only  distinct  feature  in  the  primaries,  which  are  nar- 
rower than  in  any  other  species. 

P^rsmm  is  larger  and  broader-winged,  of  a  dark  ash  gray,  mottled 
with  black  shades.  These  shadings  are  really  the  difftse  ordinary 
streaks  and  an  oblique  shading  from  the  costa  between  the  ordinary 
spots.  The  secondaries  are  white,  with  soiled  veins  and  outer  margin 
ih  the  male,  a  little  smoky  in  the  female. 

^ittcrata  vesemhles  persuam  quite  closely,  but  it  is  of  a  clearer  gray 
with  the  darker  suffusions  more  even,  and  a  strigate  character  to  the 
shadings.    The  secondaries  are  white  in  both  Hexes,  those  of  the  female 
sometimes  soiled  on  the  veins. 


VOU  XXI. 

and  (thips  of 

ts  taper!  np, 
II  the  postc 
3ene(l.  Cnv 
ted  from  the 
'ed,  croMsiiiu 
te,  probably 

plum. 


NO.  1140.        NORTB  A  MERWAK  NOCTUIDAE—SMfTn  . I  V/»  l> TAB. 


127 


w 

ir 

1 

i 

form  of  the 
•ther  fjfroni). 
fc  separated 
edge  to  the 
the  ap[)eiir- 
»«•  near  to 
1  the  iipi)er 
tly  curved, 
fin  coiiieH  a 
ider,  and  u 

iarance,  on 
nelis  ill  the 

iier  margin 
ily  arcuate 
jscured  by 
!t,  and  the 
le  white  or 
entral  dot. 
k,  with  all 
riie  white 
ih  are  uar 

y,  mottled 
I  ordinary 
!  ordinary 
er  margin 

irer  gray, 
iter  to  the 
;bc  female 


Marmorata  \h  the  odd  Hpecies  in  thiw  group,  and  wliile  the  markings 
iUi<l  Htructure  evidently  refer  it  l«ere,  it  really  resembles  most  an  exag- 
^ernted /rdgiliti.  The  ground  color  isalinost  white,  and  all  theordinary 
lines  and  spots  are  lairly  evident.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is 
quite  strongly  dentate,  a  median  sha«le  line  is  traceable,  ami  the  dag- 
ger opi>osite  the  anal  cell  is  quite  obvious.  The  arrangement  of  shadeg 
iind  tints  gives  the  wing  a  somewhat  marbled  appearance  which  makes 
ir  easily  recognizable. 

There  are  no  Euroi)oan  species  known  to  me  that  belong  to  this 
yroup. 

ACRONYCTA  AFFLICTA  Grote. 

(Plates  I,  lig.  ir>,  iidult;  V,  ligs.  1,  2,  larvu;  XXI,  »«.  lit,  malo  >ronitiilla,) 

Aoroiiyrta  afflicla  Qiiotk,  rroc.  Eiit.  Hoc.   I'hilu.,  18til,  II,  p.  138,  \tl.  i\,  tig.  1; 

Trans.  Am.  Kut.  Soc,  1870,  III,  p.  17!». 
Apatela  afflicia  Packard,  KoreHt  Insects,  1890,  p.  IBM. 
Hyhoma  affl,lvta  Ghotb,  Mltth.,  a.  <l.  Roem.  Mus.,  llildesh..  No.  3,  1896. 

Ground  color  whitish,  so  densely  overlaid  by  black  scales  that  the 
creature  seems  almost  bla<!k  at  first  sight.  Head  and  thorax  mottled 
with  gray  .and  black  scales.  The  head  and  base  of  the  collar  almost 
entirely  black.  The  patagiae  also  with  black  markings  at  the  margins. 
The  primaries  with  all  the  maculatiou  obscured  and  in  most  cases 
hardly  traceable.  All  the  transverse  lines  are  fragmentary  and  indi- 
cated by  elevated  black  scales;  but  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  pick  out 
the  course  of  any  of  them  satisfactorily.  There  is  a  broken,  zigzag 
white  subtermiual  lino  which  is  quite  distinct,  and  there  is  a  narrow 
white  line  preceding  a  series  of  terminal  black  dots.  The  fringes  are 
marked  alternately  white  and  black.  The  orbicular  is  round,  contrast- 
ing, whitish,  with  a  dusky  center.  The  reniform  is  obscured  by  the 
black  ground  <!olor.  Secondaries  white  in  the  male,  becoming  dusky 
outwardly,  the  veins  more  or  less  soiled.  In  the  female  the  secondaries 
are  dark  as  a  whole,  and  there  is  a  more  or  less  obvious  outer  dusky 
line.  Beneath  white,  strongly  black  powdered,  both  wings  wjth  a 
discal  spot  and  a  more  or  less  obvious  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.72  inches  (35  to  43  mm.). 

H«i»j<at— Canada,  south  and  southwest  to  Texas,  west  to  the  Rocky- 
Mountains.  Massachusetts  in  June;  New  York  City  in  August;  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  March;  Texas,  March  and  April. 

This  is  quite  an  easily  recognizable  specdes  and  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon. The  almost  black  of  the  primaries  is  relieved  by  the  white  of  the 
secondaries  and  by  the  contrasting  orbicular  spot,  all  the  other  mark- 
ings being  more  or  less  swallowed  in  the  black  overlaying  of  the  scales. 
The  inner  margin  of  tlie  wings  is  a  little  more  gray  than  the  rest,  and 
when  the  insect  has  them  folded  it  seems  like  a  gray  streak  running 
the  full  length  from  the  head  to  the  parting  of  the  wings.  There  are 
tw^o  rather  distinct  forms,  though  marked  only  in  tae  maies.  iU  tiiG 
first  the  primaries  are  almost  black  and  the  secondaries  almost  white, 


If 

iiii,!., 


128 


PRnCEEUlNOS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


voi.txr. 

with  a  very  narrow  iiiaiKinal  dimky  hand;  tlie  HoconcI  form  luw  th«, 
pnniarios  naudi  inonx  sordid  in  hue,  the  H««.on(hiri«H  are  Hoiled,  an<l 
there  ih  a  (!onHi<lerahU>  HulJiision  of  smoky  in  Mm,  outer  part  of  tli.- 
«««'ondarie«.     The.se  form«  run  into  eadi  other,  however,  in  8ucl.  a  way 
EH  to  make  it  impoHsible  to  believe  tliom  to  l»eeven  varietien,  muchleHM 
Hpeeu's.    Tlie  liead  i«  distinct,  ratlier  lar^e,  the  palpi  well  deveh.ped 
and  reaehinj;  to  the  middle  of  the  front,  whieli  is  only  a  little  convex 
and  not  at  all  l>ul,(in«:.     The  fore  lejf  is  very  stout,  the  femur  is  much 
thickened,  abruptly  narrowed  toward  the  tip,  where  it  is  iuferiorlv 
excavated   to  receive  the  tibia.     The  tibia   is  stout,   the  epiphysis 
inserted  beh.w  the  middle  and  reaching'  to  the  tip.    The  tarsi  are  quite 
stout  and  rather  short  in  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the  lej,'.    The  nmle 
charact«;rs  are  as  deserilxHl    for   the  section.    The  corneous  part  is 
8<iuared  at  the  tip,  where  there  is  a  somewhat  beak-like  projecting  proc 
essextendiiiK  toward  the  middle  of  the  uj.per  portion  of  the  harpes 
Further  toward  the  base  there  is  a  shorter  stout  <;orneou8  process  or 
linger.    There  seems  to  be  considerable  range  of  variation  in  si/e,  some 
of  the  smaller  specimens  seeming  almost  crippled  in  comparison  to  the 
largest. 

LARVA. 

TUAXTKH,  I'apilio,  1««3,  III,,,.  17. -Packahd,  Fifth  Kept.  U.S.  Ent.  Coii.ui., 

8tagc  F.— Head  fleshy  jiurple  brown,  slnuled  over  the  front  of  the 
lobes,  thickly  mottled  with  little  pale  dots  segregated  into  patches- 
the  ui)per  epicraneal  setae  black,  the  rest  white,  cotirse;  width,  3  mm! 
Body,  sordid  orange  greenish,  brighter  on  Joints  2  ar.d  12,  tubercles 
red.  Dorsal  vessel  dark,  centered  with  pale  pigment.  An  obscure 
double  lateral  line  between  warts  11  and  111,  resembling  the  faintly 
shownig  tracheae,  bnt  less  straight.  Warts  I  and  II  snmmnded  by 
laint  psvle  rings.  No  distinct  marks.  Si.irades  black  edged.  Warts 
I  to  III  elongated,  with  a  central  hair  and  crown  of  smaller  ones  at  the 
apex;  white,  except  the  central  hair  on  I  and  II,  which  is  bhick.  Warts 
IV  and  V  single  haired,  VI  with  several  pale  hairs.  No  secondary 
hairs.  ^ 

Stm/r  F7.— Head  wide,  slightly  bilobed;  brown,  with  purj)le  reticu 
lations  and  whitish  dots  over  the  face  of  the  lobes,  slightly  shagreened; 
width,  4.5  mm.  Body  nearly  uniform  reddish  brown,  a  dusky  black 
dorsal  stripe,  and  a  faint  reddish  lateral  one.  Tubercles  very  small, 
not  prominent,  all  single  Jiaired  except  VI;  orange  color.  Setae  short 
and  fine  except  II  on  joints  n  to  7,  which  are  long,  black,  slender,  with 
small  spatulate  tips.  In  others  these  spatulate  hairs  are  present  on 
joints  5-8,  12;  3,  5-9,  12or  3-10,  12,  the  number  being  variable  to  this 
extent.  Spiracles,  black  rimmed.  Dr.  Thaxter  states  that  there  is 
also  a  '■<■  rich  yellow  green  "  form. 

Cocoon.— Qaite  tough,  composed  of  silk  and  bits  of  wood,  partly 
formed  by  the  substance  on  which  it  is  made. 


KO.U40. 


NORTH 


rupti. — Rathei 
smooth,  scarcely 
greened.  Cremi 
helow,  blackish; 
ward;  lower  ho 
recurved  tips.    1 

Food  plant. — ( 


(Phitfls  X 

Ground  color 
smoky.    Elead  v 
iiue;  a  blackish 
the  patagiae  are 
the  markings  tri 
brown  or  black 
line  is  geminate, 
the  veins.    The 
from  the  costa 
inward  to  the  hi 
or  black,  the  inn 
white  or  nearly  i 
The  subtermina 
interrupted  oi)p( 
terminal  space  h 
evident,  and  a 
fringes  are  cut  m 
basal  black  stret 
and  almost  to  th 
or  less  obvious  b 
inter8i)ace  to  the 
the  median  line, 
terior  line  of  the 
from  the  renifori 
on  the  margin. 
the  ordinary  spo 
dusky.    The  ord 
distinct,  white,  c 
form  may  or  maj 
a  blackish  lunuh 
soiled  at  the  edg 
the  base  of  the  \ 
sometimes  smok 
evident. 

Expanse,  l.GO 
Proc.  N.  ]^( 


No.tl40.  NORTlt  AMERICAN  NOCTVIItAE— SMITH  AND  DYAH. 


129 


Pufut. — Hiitlior  thill,  brown,  tapering,  ubdoininul  Hegnicnts  very 
HMiootli,  Hcarcely  pniurtureU  at  all,  Miiiniii);;  caHeH  very  Mli|;litly  Hlia- 
^;r*'eiie<l.  Cri'iniiHter  rather  broad,  h)w,  irrcguhir  and  lumpy,  neaHod 
liciow,  blackiHh;  upper  liookn  one  on  eacii  side,  HhMider,  directrd  ha<!lt- 
ward;  lower  hooks  tliree  on  each  side,  straight,  subparallel,  with 
recurved  tips.    Length,  17  nun. 

Food  j)lant. — ihik. 

ACRONYCTA  LITURATA,  new  species. 
(P1iit4«  XIII.  tlK-  H,  femnlfl  adult;  XXI,  tl^.  21,  itmln  K«uitalitt.) 

Ground  color  a  i)ale  powdery  ash  gray,  more  or  less  sun'uHed  with 
smoky.  Head  witii  a  brown  line  below  and  another  above  the  anten- 
nae; a  blackish  line  crosses  the  middle  of  the  (collar,  and  the  edges  of 
tiie  patagiae  are  more  or  less  black  marked.  The  primaries  have  all 
the  markings  traceable,  but  rather  obscured.  Basal  line  is  geniinute, 
brown  or  black  marked  on  the  costa  only.  The  transverse  anterior 
line  is  geminate,  brown  or  black,  outwardly  oblique,  irregular  between 
the  veins.  The  median  shade  is  narrow,  obscure  outwardly;  oblicjue 
t'lom  the  costa  through  the  reniform  and  then  irregular,  obliquely 
inward  to  the  hind  margin.  Transverse  posterior  line  geminate,  brown 
01'  black,  the  inner  portion  of  the  line  less  defined,  the  included  8i)a<!e 
white  or  nearly  so,  the  outer  line  slender  and  denticulate  on  the  veins. 
The  subtenuinal  line  is  white  or  nearly  so,  very  strongly  dentated, 
interrupted  ojuwsite  the  cell  and  in  the  submedian  interspace.  The 
terminal  space  has,  in  the  interspaces,  blackish  markings,  more  or  less 
evident,  and  a  series  of  black  terminal  lunules,  beyond  which  the 
hinges  are  cut  with  black  or  brown.  There  is  a  more  or  less  distinct 
basal  black  streak  which  extends  through  the  transverse  anterior  line 
and  almost  to  the  middle  of  the  wing.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  more 
or  less  obvious  blackish  shade  which  continues  through  the  submedian 
interspace  to  the  outer  margin.  It  is  sometimes  sharply  interrupted  at 
the  median  line,  leaving  the  space  between  it  and  the  transverse  pos- 
terior line  of  the  paler  ground  color.  There  is  also  a  blackish  streak 
from  the  reniform  outwardly,  which  becomes  broader  and  more  diffuse 
on  the  margin.  lu  a  vague  sort  of  way  the  middle  of  the  wing  between 
the  ordinary  spots  and  to  the  longitudinal  shade  is  also  a  little  more 
dusky.  The  ordinary  spots  are  traceable;  the  orbicular  being  rather 
distinct,  white,  outlined  in  black  and  centered  with  brown ;  the  reni- 
form may  or  may  not  be  outlined  by  black  scales,  and  there  is  usually 
a  blackish  lunule  in  the  center.  Secondaries  white  in  the  male,  a  little 
soiled  at  the  edges ;  in  the  female  the  soiling  extends  farther  toward 
the  base  of  the  wing.  Beneath,  more  or  less  powdery;  the  primaries 
sometimes  smoky,  the  ordinary  outer  lines  and  discal  spots  variably 
evident. 

Expanse,  l.GO  to  1.68  inches  (40  to  42  mm.). 
Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 9 


130 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


vol..  XXI. 


Ml,  1140. 


J 


Habitat.— G&vfi^\A.  County,  Colorado,  7,000  feet;  Gleuwood  Spriugs, 
Colorado,  iu  July ;  Oregon. 

This  species  strongly  resembles  persnasa  in  its  general  appearance; 
but  it  is  much  i)aler  and  the  markings  are  better  defined.  The  second- 
aries in  the  female  are  almost  as  light  as  those  of  persnasa  male.  The 
harpes  of  the  male  are  unusually  short  and  broad  and  the  corneou.s 
portion  serving  as  clasper  is  hardly  as  distinct  as  iu  the  other  species. 
The  beak  near  to  the  upper  angle  is  moderate  in  size  and  only  a  littlo 
curved,  while  the  process  near  the  base  is  very  short,  stout,  and  pointed. 
In  leg  structure  the  species  resembles  afflicta,  no  essential  differences 
having  been  observed.  Four  male  and  two  female  specimens  form  the 
types,  represented  in  the  collection  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Eutgers 
College,  Dr.  William  Barnes,  and  Mr.  J.  Doll. 

ACRONYCTA   PERSUASA   Harvey. 

(Plates  III,  fig.  11,  adult;  XVII,  fig.  29,  legs;  XVIII,  fig.  10,  palpus;  XXI,  fig.  20, 

male  genitalia.) 

Jpatela  persnasa  Harvey,  Bull.  Buff.  Soo.  Nat.  Sci.,  1875,  II,  p.  271.— Butlkk, 
Ent.  Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  36=brumo8a  Guende. 

Ground  color  a  deep  bluish  ash  gray,  heavily  powdered  with  black 
and  with  a  more  or  less  smoky  suffusion.    Head  with  a  line  below  the 
antennae  and  one  on  the  vertex.    Collar  with  a  black  line  above  the 
middle  and  the  patagiae  margined  with  black.    Primaries  with  all  the 
markings  traceable;  but  all  more  or  less  broken,  and  more  or  less 
obscured  by  the  smoky  shading.    Basal  line  geminate,  black,  usually 
marked  on  the  costa  only.    Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  black, 
outwardly  oblique,  the    lines    well  separated   and  equally  distinct. 
Median  shade  line  slender,  oblique  from  the  costa  through  the  reniforui, 
thence  almost  straight  to  the  hind  margin.    It  is  traceable  iu  all  the 
specimens  that  I  have  seen,  and  distinct  in  most.    Transverse  posterior 
line  geminate,  the  inner  portion  of  the  line  brown,  the  intervening 
space  whitish,  the  outer  line  black,  lunulate  and  dentate  on  the  veins; 
it  is  squarely  bent  outwardly  over  the  cell  and    not  very  strongly 
incurved  below.    The  subterminal  line  is  whitish,  irregularly  dentate, 
and  more  or  less  interrupted.     There  is  a  series  of  terminal  dark 
marks,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  marked  with  blackish.    There  is 
a  black  basal  dash  which  reaches  the  transverse  anterior  line  and  a 
black  mark  from  the  transverse  anterior  line  to  the  median  shade. 
Both  of  these  are  accompanied  by  smoky  or  black  shadings  which  more 
or  less  fill  the  submedian  interspace  to  the  median  shade  line.    There 
is  a  distinct  black  streak  through  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the 
outer  margin,  above  which  there  is  a  smoky  shade  extending  nearly  to 
vein  3.    Another  shading  beyond  the  transverse  posterior  line  is 
opposite  the  cell,  and  here  we  have  a  more  or  less  trinngular  black 
mark.    The  ordinary  spots  are  large,  the  orbicular  round  or  a  little 
oval:  it  is  white  or  gray,  centered  with  smoky,  and  outlined  by  black 


scales.  T 
and  with  s 
base,  disti 
whitish  in 
the  female 
more  or  le 
E.\pans( 
Habitat. 
March;  T« 
This  is  c 
tlie  Unitei 
New  Mexi 
Butler  ref< 
eironeousl 
hntmosa  a 
and  thirty 
eiii  localit, 
its  occurri 
so  dark  as 
a  general ■ 
ance,  a  du 
side  of  the 
above  the 
verse  post( 
bulging,  tl 
of  the  fror 
lar^e  and 
grooved  t( 
attached  b 
and  stout, 
tiou  formii 
upper  aug] 
the  upper 
the  species 


(I 

Ground  < 
by  black  s 
and  the  ti 
Primaries 
wing  a  mt 
the  basal  e 
between  tl 
the  line  b 
black,  out' 


VOL.  XXI. 

ad  Springs, 

ippearauce; 
riie  second- 
male.  The 
»e  corneou.s 
her  species, 
aniy  a  little 
nd  pointed, 
dififerenees 
ns  form  the 
m,  Kutgers 


XXI,  fig.  20, 

71.— BUTLKU, 

with  black 
)  below  the 
)  above  the 
vith  all  the 
are  or  less 
ck,  usually 
late,  black, 
y  distinct. 
.6  reniforui, 

in  all  the 
e  posterior 
tttervening 

the  veins; 
y  strongly 
ly  dentate, 
dinal  dark 
There  is 
line  and  a 
ian  shade, 
vhich  more 
ae.  There 
line  to  the 
?  nearly  to 
or  line  is 
alar  black 

or  a  little 
I  by  black 


1140.         NORTH  AMEBTCAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAB. 


131 


scales.  The  reniform  is  large,  kidney-shaped,  outlined  by  black  scales 
and  with  a  blackish  center.  Secondaries  smoky,  whitish  toward  the 
base,  distinctly  darker  in  the  females  than  in  the  males.  Beneath 
whitish  in  the  male,  very  strongly  black  powdered  on  the  primaries.  In 
the  female  both  wings  are  black  powdered,  and  in  all  cases  there  is  a 
more  or  less  well  marked  outer  black  line  and  a  black  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.80  inches  (37  to  45  mm.). 

Habitat. — Southern  States;  Florida;  Texas;  Archer,  Florida,  in 
March ;  Texas  in  March  and  April  ( ?) ;  Colorado  ( ?) ;  New  Mexico  ( 1). 

This  is  one  of  the  few  species  that  is  confined  to  the  southern  part  of 
the  United  States.  There  have  been  some  records  from  Colorado  and 
Kew  Mexico;  but  it  is  questionable  whether  these  are  correct.  Mr. 
Butler  referred  this  species  to  brumosa,  but  as  I  have  already  shown 
erroneously.  The  localities,  therefore,  that  have  been  recorded  for 
hrmnosa  can  not  be  held  as  fitting  to  this  species.  In  between  twenty 
and  thirty  specimens  before  me  not  one  of  them  comes  from  any  north- 
ern locality ;  though  this  does  not  exclude,  of  course,  the  possibility  of 
its  occurring  there.  The  species  is  quite  constant,  rarely  becoming 
so  dark  as  to  make  it  possible  to  confuse  it  with  a  rubbed  afflicta.  In 
a  general  way  the  impression  is  given  of  a  somewhat  blotchy  appear- 
ance, a  dusky  shade  occurring  over  the  reniform,  another  one  just  out- 
side of  the  basal  space  at  about  the  middle  of  the  wing,  a  third  just 
above  the  anal  angle,  and  a  fourth  opposite  the  cell  beyond  the  trans- 
verse posterior  line.  The  head  is  of  good  size,  the  front  convex  but  not 
bulging,  the  palpi  are  rather  small,  althougli  they  reach  to  the  middle 
of  the  front.  The  anterior  legs  of  the  male  are  heavy,  the  femur  very 
large  and  much  dilated,  rather  suddenly  narrow  toward  the  tip  and 
grooved  to  receive  the  short,  stout  tibia,  in  which  the  epiphysis  is 
attached  below  the  middle  and  reaches  to  the  tip.  The  tarsus  is  short 
and  stout.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  moderate  in  length,  that  por- 
tion forming  the  clasper  being  square  at  the  tip.  The  process  at  the 
upper  angle  is  stout,  moderately  curved  and  pointed  at  tip;  that  from 
the  upper  margin  is  slender,  quite  long  and  a  little  curved.  Altogether 
the  species  is  a  well  marked  one. 

ACRONYCTA  MARMORATA,  new  species. 

(Plates  XIII,  lig.  3,  female  adult;  XXI,  fig.  22,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  white,  with  a  slight  yellowish  suffusion.  Head  mottled 
by  black  scales.  Collar  with  a  broad  black  band  just  below  the  tip 
and  the  tip  black  marked.  The  patagiae  with  a  black  submargin. 
Primaries  with  all  the  markings  contrasting  and  black,  giving  the 
wing  a  marbled  appearance.  Basal  line  geminate,  black,  reaching  to 
the  basal  streak.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  black,  outcurved 
between  the  veins,  so  as  to  form  almost  a  series  of  loops,  both  parts  of 
the  line  being  equally  distinct.  The  median  shade  line  is  distinct, 
black,  outwardly  bent  from  the  costa  to  the  reniform,  then  forming  a 


, 


■f 


132 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


Ml] 

m 


--I 


VOL.  xxr. 

right  angle  and  a  little  oblique  outwa7dly  to  tlieT^er  margin.    Trans 
verse  posterior  line  geminate,  black,  denticulate  on  the  veins:  the  inner 
portion  very  narrow  and  brownish  rather  than  black;  the  outer  part 
black  and  lunulate,  very  little  sinuate,  and  as  a  whole  nearly  parallel 
with  the  outer  margin.    The  subterminal  line  is  white,  very  irregularly 
dentate,  and  beyond  it  the  terminal  space  is  black  marked.    There  is  a 
series  of  black  terminal  lunules,  preceded  by  a  white  lunulate  line 
the  fringes  cut  with  black.    There  is  a  black  basal  streak,  which 
extends  to  the  transverse  anterior  line ;  another  streak  extends  through 
the  submedian  interspace  from  the  median  shade  line  through  the 
transverse  posterior  line  nearly  to  the  anal  angle.    The  ordinary  spots 
are  distinct;  the  orbicular  round,  white,  black  margined,  and  with  a 
dusky  center;  the  reniform  large,  kidney  shaped,  outlined  by  black 
scales  and  obscured  by  the  median  shade.    Secondaries  whitish  the 
veins  marked  with  smoky,  and  a  smoky  outer  line.    Beneath  white 
black  powdered,  with  a  broken  outer  line  and  a  discal  dot  on  all  wings' 
Expanse,  1.36  to  1.56  inches  (34  to  39  mm.). 
Habitat.— Folmm,  California,  in  July;  Montana. 
I  have  three  males  and  one  female  before  me.    The  Californian  speci 
mens  are  from  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  the  other  from  the  collection 
of  Mr.  J.  Doll.    The  species  is  quite  different  from  any  of  its  allies  by 
the  marbled  appearance  and  the  distinct  white  ground  color.    There 
seems  to  be  considerable  variation,  but  there  is  not  enough  material  at 
hand  to  ray  just  exactly  what  its  range  is.    The  front  is  convex  but 
hardly  bulging;  the  legs  in  the  male  are  as  in  the  rest  of  the  species  of 
this  series.    The  tibia  have  an  unusually  small  epiphysis,  set  unusually 
close  to  the  tip.    The  genitalia  of  the  male  have  the  harpes  unusually 
short  and  broad,  the  clasper  with  the  outer  process  stout,  only  a  little 
curved  and  pointed  at  the  tip.    The  process  near  to  the  base  is  very 
long,  very  slender,  and  a  little  twisted  at  the  tip.    It  is  thus  radically 
different  from  anything  else  in  the  genus  or  in  the  section,  and  the  spe- 
cies is  undoubtedly  a  good  one. 

Group  HAMAMELIS. 

The  species  referred  here  agree  in  having  the  primaries  rather 
abruptly  widened  at  base,  forming  on  the  costa  a  somewhat  well- 
marked  arch  or  shoulder.  In  all  of  them  the  maculation  is  fairly  well 
defined  or  distinct,  and  the  ordinary  spots  are  obvious.  The  trans- 
verse  anterior  line  is  geminate  when  completely  present,  and  the  dashes 
or  dagger  marks  may  or  may  not  be  obvious.  The  male  characters  are 
decided  and  practically  alike  in  all  the  species.  The  harpes  are  well 
developed,  with  a  diagonal  chitinous  ridge  from  the  base  of  the  upper 
side  to  the  inferior  margin  some  distance  from  tip,  and  from  this  arises 
a  single,  rather  short,  stout,  curved,  beak-like  clasper.  There  is  no 
chance  of  confusing  this  type  of  structure  with  anv  other  in  the  o-pt,,.. 
and  the  superficial  characters  also  ally  the  species  fairly  well  If  we 
except  albaru/a.  ' 


,  VOL.  XXI. 

rgin.  Trans- 
ins:  the  inner 
be  outer  part 
early  parallel 
ry  irregularly 
I.  There  is  a 
uuulate  line, 
treak,  which 
ends  through 

through  the 
'dinary  spots 
I,  and  with  a 
led  by  black 

whitish,  the 
meath  white, 
on  all  wings. 


orniau  sped- 
he  collectiou 

its  allies  by 
olor.  There 
1  material  at 

convex,  but 
he  species  of 
et  unusually 
3S  unusually 
only  a  little 
base  is  very 
lus  radically 
and  the  spe- 


iries  rather 
ewhat  well- 
8  fairly  well 
The  trans- 
I  the  dashes 
iracters  are 
3es  are  well 
f  the  upper 

I  this  arises 
^here  is  no 

II  tllP,  crp.niis 

well,  if  we 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE—f^MITH  AND  DTAR. 


133 


Alborvfa  is  the  inevitable  oddity,  resembling,  except  for  wing  form, 
the  (jrisea  series  in  the  lobeliae  group.  It  is  blue-gray  in  color,  much 
as  in  falcula  and  parallela,  and  it  is  only  by  a  little  stretch  of  the 
imagination  that  the  vestiture  can  be  said  to  be  roughened  or  elevated 
oil  the  lines  of  ornamentation.  The  basal  dash  joins  the  transverse 
anterior  line,  which  here  bends  inwardly,  and  thus  there  is  an  outcurve 
toward  the  costa  and  another  toward  the  inner  margin  from  this  dash. 
Hie  large  reniform  is  centered  by  a  reddish  shade,  which  is  character- 
istic, and  seems  to  give  a  tint  to  the  entire  wing. 

All  the  other  species  are  of  some  shade  of  ashen  gray  or  yellowish 
and  none  other  has  the  reddish  shade  in  the  reniform. 

Ovata  is  separated  from  all  the  others  by  having  the  basal  dash  and 
transverse  anterior  line  exactly  as  in  albaru/a,  that  i«,  the  prominent, 
inferiorly  diffuse  dash  meets  the  transverse  anterior  Ime  at  an  incurve 
and  it  darkens  both  the  outcurves  of  the  line  for  a  short  distance.  In 
ground  color  the  primaries  are  a  pale  ash-gray,  with  a  yellowish  tint, 
which  is  intensified  in  the  large  reniform.  The  j)si  mark  opposite  the 
anal  angle  is  always  present,  usually  distinct  and  sometimes  prominent. 
The  black  mark  opposite  the  cell  is  marked  in  all  my  specimens  either 
by  a  distinct  line,  a  short  dash  from  the  outer  margin,  or  a  more  dittiise 
shading. 

Modica  is  similar  in  color,  but  smaller.  The  basal  dash  is  a  iine  line; 
the  transverse  anterior  line  is  complete,  geminate,  evenly  oblique,  or 
with  but  the  merest  central  incurve.  The  psi  marks  are  as  in  ovatttf 
but  much  less  distinct.  On  the  whole  the  species  is  a  feeble  copy  of 
the  preceding  on  a  smaller  scale. 

Clarescens,  or,  as  it  is  better  known,  haesitata,  is  the  largest  species  of 
the  group  and  of  an  even,  pale  ash  gray,  on  which  all  the  markings  are 
well  defined,  though  not  prominent.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is 
distinctly  geminate  and  evenly  oblique,  while  the  ba^al  streak  is  rarely 
well  marked  and  may  be  entirely  absent.  The  dagger  mark  opposite 
the  anal  angle  is  usually  distinct,  slender,  and  black,  and  is  more  or  less 
evident  in  nearly  every  instance.  The  dash  opposite  the  cell  may  be 
marked  on  the  outer  margin,  but  it  is  not  complete  in  any  specimen 
seen  by  me. 

UamameHs  is  very  dark  ashen  gray  with  a  smoky  suffusion.  In  dark 
specimens  the  markings  do  not  contrast,  but  when  the  ground  color 
becomes  paler  the  lines  are  relieved  and  the  wings  soem  moi-e  or  less 
banded.  There  is  no  evident  dagger  mark  opposite  the  anal  angle,  and 
this,  with  the  ground  color,  will  suffice  to  distinguish  it  from  the  pre- 
ceding form. 

fncreta  is  a  much  smaller  and  decidedly  darker  species,  in  which  all 
tlie  maculation  of  hamamelis  is  reproduced.  The  primaries  are  propor- 
tionately narrower  and  more  subequal,  and  this,  with  the  very  dark 
colors,  sometimes  inclining  a  little  to  olivaceous,  will  make  the  species 
recognizable. 

lietardata  averages  yet  smaller,  but  is  a  very  pale,  whitish  gray, 


134 


rnOCEEDlNGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


^^^ 


with  distinctly  wider  primaries.  The  macnlation  is  intermediate  in 
type  between  ovata  and  liamameliH,  while  on  the  whole  the  tendency  to 
a  darker  basal  space  makes'the  similarity  to  the  latter  most  obvious. 

The  species  in  this  gronp  are  somewhat  closely  allied,  but,  F  believe, 
distinct.    So  far  as  1  am  aware  they  have  no  European  counterparts. 

ACRONYCTA  ALBARUFA  Grote. 

(Plates  III,  fig.  10,  adult;  XII,  fig.  9,  female  adult;  XVI,  fig.  11,  venation;  XVII, 
fig.  32,  leg;  XXI,  fig.  24,  male  genitalia.) 

Apatela  aUmriifa  Grote,  Proc.  Boat.  See.  N.  H.,  1874,  XVI,  p.  239;  Papilio,  1883, 

III,  p.  68. 
Acronyvta  walkeri  Andrews,  Can.  Ent.,  1877,  IX,  p.  98.— GJkaef,  Bull.  Bkln.  Ent. 

See,  1879, 1,  p.  93,  pr.  syu. 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  bluish  gray,  with  a  more  or  less  evident 
reddish  suffusion,  which  is  more  obvious  on  the  primaries.  Front 
whitish,  with  a  black  line  at  the  base  and  some  black  scales  at  the  tip, 
which  do  not  form  a  complete  line.  Tho  primaries  have  all  the  mark- 
ings fairly  distinct.  The  basal  line  is  geminate,  marked  on  the  costa 
only,  and  sometimes  not  well  marked  even  here.  Transverse  anterior 
line  geminate,  black,  broken,  outwardly  curved  from  the  costa  to  the 
basal  dash,  where  it  is  drawn  in  very  considerably.  It  is  again  out- 
wardly curved  toward  the  hind  margin,  but  rarely  reaches  that  i)oiiit 
in  its  completeness.  Median  shade  line  obliquely  bent  from  costa  to 
between  the  ordinary  spots.  This  space  may  be  broken,  and  the  line 
then  extends  almost  upright  to  the  inner  margin.  As  a  rule,  however, 
the  line  is  very  faint  below  the  ordinary  spots  and  frequently  it  ends 
at  that  point.  Transverse  posterior  line  geminate,  broadly  outcurved 
over  the  cell,  and  moderately  bent  in  the  submedian  interspace.  The 
inner  portion  of  the  line  is  not  defined  and  is  evident  only  by  the  fact 
that  the  included  space  is  usually  whitish,  or  at  least  paler  than  the 
ground  color.  The  outer  line  is  narrowly  black,  sometimes  a  little 
lunulate  and  shaded  outwardly  with  reddish.  There  is  a  vague  paler 
subterminal  line,  which  is  sometimes  quite  evident  and  very  even  and 
again  entirely  obscured.  There  is  a  series  of  terminal  iunules  preceded 
by  a  white  shade,  atid  beyond  them  the  fringes  are  cut  with  dusky. 
There  is  an  evident  black  basal  streak  which  extends  to  the  transverse 
anterior  line.  It  is  slightly  curved,  so  that  meeting  the  transverse 
anterior  line  it  incloses  an  oval  space  at  the  base.  There  is  a  some 
what  well-marked  dagger  in  the  submedian  interspace  extending  from 
the  margin  to  and  sometimes  even  through  the  transverse  posterior  line, 
although  this  is  rare.  Opi)osite  the  cell  a  blackish  spur  may  be  seen 
from  the  terminal  space  which  in  extreme  cases  readies  the  transverse 
posterior  line,  but  may  be  entirely  wanting  or  marked  only  by  a  some- 
what more  dusky  patch  between  veins  5  and  6.  The  ordinary  spots 
are  large  and  well  n-.arked ;  the  orbicular  round,  pale,  sometimes  with 
a  dusky  center,  neatly  ringed  with  black  in  most  instances.    The  reni- 


VOL.  XXI. 

rmediate  in 
tendency  to 
it  obvious, 
it,  r  believe, 
nterparts. 


nation;  XVII, 

Papilio,  1883, 
nil.  Bkln.  Ent. 

less  evident 
ries.  Front 
s  at  the  tip, 
11  the  niai  k- 
)n  the  costa 
rse  anterior 
uosta  to  the 
}  again  out- 
s  that  ])oint 
om  costa  to 
lud  the  lino 
le,  however, 
ntly  it  ends 
y  outcurved 
space.    Tlie 

by  the  fact 
er  than  the 
aes  a  little 
vague  paler 
vy  even  and 
es  preceded 
vith  dusky. 
'  transverse 

transverse 
i  is  a  some- 
indiug  from 
•steriorline, 
nay  be  seen 
» transverse 

by  a  aorae- 

liuary  spots 

etiines  witli 

The  reni- 


.NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


135 


form  ic  large,  kidney  shaped,  outwardly  somewhat  indeflned,  the  center 
reddish  brown,  somewhat  contrasting  with  the  rest  of  the  wing.  Second- 
aries in  the  male  white,  a  little  margined  with  dusky  at  the  base  of  the 
fringes,  in  the  female  smoky,  but  variabl*^  in  this  respect  and  some- 
times white.  Beneath  white,  with-  black  powderings  varying  to  smoky 
in  dark  females.  Both  wings  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  outer  line 
and  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.20  to  1.50  inches  (30  to  37  mm.). 

Habitat. — Canada,  south  to  Georgia,  west  to  New  Mexico  and  Colo- 
rado, Massachusetts  in  July;  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in  June;  central 
New  York  in  May;  Hot  Springs,  Few  Mexico,  7,000  feet,  July  and 
August;  Denver,  Colorado,  July. 

This  species  varies  considerably  in  ground  color,  but  not  in  essential 
characters.  Sometimes  the  red  shade  is  altogether  wanting,  and  in  one 
case  the  specimen  is  as  dark  as  tritona  both  in  primaries  and  second- 
aries. There  is  a  great  difference  between  the  sexes,  the  males  being 
much  lighter  throughout  than  the  females.  There  seems  to  be  a  dif- 
ference also  between  the  Western  forms  and  those  from  the  more  East- 
ern localities ;  the  former  being  lighter  throughout  and  appearing  dif- 
ferent on  casual  comparison.  I  have  been  unable,  however,  to  discover 
any  real  difference  either  in  maculation  or  in  structure  after  examining 
tlie  long  series  of  specimens  before  me.  The  head  is  of  good  size,  the 
tront  full  but  not  prominent,  the  palpi  distinct,  reaching  to  the  middle 
of  the  front  or  a  little  beyond.  The  legs  are  short  and  stout,  the 
epiphysis  of  the  anterior  tibia  being  small  and  situated  at  about  the 
middle.  The  genitalia  of  the  male  offer  nothing  peculiar,  and  simply 
agree  with  the  description  that  has  been  already  given  for  the  group. 

ACRONYCTA  OVATA  Grote. 

(Plates  IV,  figs.  7,  8,  adult;  V,  fig.  3,  larva;  XII,  fig.  10,  female  adult;  XIV,  fig.  12, 
female  ovipositer ;  XXI,  fig.  25,  male  genitalia. ) 

Actonycta  ovntn  Grote,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.  1873, 1,  p.  80,  pi.  ii,  fig.  14. 

Lepitoreuina  ovata  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112. 

Apaiela  ovata  Packard,  Forest  insects,  1890,  p.  169. 

Hyboma  orc*a  Grotb,  Mitth.,  a.  d.  Koem.  Mns.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3, 1896,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  a  dirty  yellowish  gray,  the  yellow  powdering  more  or 
less  well  marked  in  places,  giving  the  characteristic  shade  to  the  wings. 
Mead  with  a  dusky  line  across  the  front;  collar  with  a  dusky  line  at 
base.  Primaries  with  all  the  markings  fairly  evident.  Basal  line 
dusky  and  marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  anterior  line  gemi- 
nate, black  or  blackish,  the  intervening  space  dusky.  The  line  curves 
outwardly  from  the  costa  to  the  black  basal  streak,  where  it  is  well 
drawn  in;  beyond  that  point  it  again  curves  outwardly,  but  rarely 
reaches  the  internal  margin.  It  is  usually  also  broken  just  below  the 
costa.  The  median  shade  line  is  oblique  from  the  costa  to  the  reni- 
form,  which  is  sometimes  a  little  darkened  by  it,  and  occasionally  the 
line  may  be  traced  below  the  reniform  to  the  inner  margin.    Transverse 


M 


i  t 


m 


i 


186 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


I 


w 


\ 


< ' 


posterior  line  geminate,  both  lines  fairly  evident,  though  the  inner  is 
sometimes  obscnre,  the  intervening  space  whitish.  The  outer  line  is 
black  or  brown,  sometimes  a  little  lunulated,  as  a  whole  outwardly 
bent  over  the  cell  and  well  drawn  in  below.  The  space  beyond  the 
transverse  posterior  line  is  dusky,  and  through  it  is  a  more  or  less 
evident  pale  subterminal  line  which  is  very  irregular  in  some  speci- 
inena  and  strongly  zigzag,  though  in  others  it  is  almost  even.  There 
is  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  lunules,  usually  preceded  by  a  waved 
paler  line,  and  tlie  fringes  beyond  them  are  cut  with  dusky.  There  is 
a  black  streak  at  base,  which  is  a  little  curved  and  meets  the  trans- 
verse  anterior  line  in  such  a  way  as  to  include  an  oval  space  at  the 
base.  There  is  a  distinct  dagger  mark  crossing  the  transverse  poste- 
rior line  in  thesubmedian  interspace,  and  extending  to  the  subterminal 
line  only.  Between  veins  5  and  G  a  black  mark  extends  inwardly  and 
sometimes  reaches  the  transverse  posterior  line;  but  it  tends  to  become 
obsolete  and  in  some  specimens  is  hardly  even  indicated.  The  ordinary 
spots  are  large,  the  orbicular  irregularly  ovate,  black  ringed,  usually  a 
little  paler  than  the  ground  color.  The  reniform  is  large,  kidney 
shaped,  usually  not  well  defined,  but  made  prominent  by  the  yellowish 
flllin- .  Secondaries  smoky  in  both  sexes,  in  the  females  a  little  darker, 
with  an  outer  line  and  a  discal  spot  fairly  evident  in  most  cases! 
Beneath  smoky,  powdery,  both  sexes  with  an  outer  line  and  usually 
also  with  a  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.20  to  1.00  inches  (30  to  40  mm.). 

Habitat— New  York  to  Texas,  Avest  to  the  foot  of  Eocky  Mountains; 
central  New  York  in  June;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  May; 
Newton,  Massachusetts,  May  25;  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  June  29;  Texas 
in  July. 

1  have  no  doubt  that  this  is  a  good  species.  It  has  been  asserted  by 
those  who  have  bred  the  insect  that  it  is  the  same  as  hamamelis;  but  I 
believe  that  this  is  due  to  an  error  in  the  observations  on  the  larvae. 
Certainly  there  is  never  any  difficulty  in  separating  the  adults  from 
those  of  hamamelis,  and  until  both  species  have  been  raised  from  eggs 
laid  by  a  female  of  one  species  I  am  not  ready  to  admit  that  the  two 
are  the  same.  The  most  characteristic  features  which  distinguish  this 
species  are  the  pale  ground  color  through  which  there  is  a  more  or  less 
evident  yellowish  shade;  the  transverse  anterior  line,  which  is  more  or 
less  black  filled  and  distinctly  drawn  in  to  meet  the  basal  black  streak 
so  as  to  form  an  oval  spot  in  the  upper  part  of  the  basal  space,  exactly 
like  that  in  albaru/a.  There  is  very  little  variation  in  the  species, 
except  that  some  are  a  little  darker  than  others  and  in  some  the  yellow 
is  more  evident  than  it  is  in  others.  I  have  examined  over  fifty  speci- 
mens in  comparison  with  the  other  species  in  this  series  and  have  not 
found  any  examples  that  were  in  the  least  doubtful.  In  wing  form  this 
species  also  approaches  albarufa  and  is  different  from  hamamelis.  The 
head  is  distinct,  front  a  little  bulging,  the  palpi  reaching  to  the  middle. 


N(  1.1140. 

The  anter 
at  about 
iicnitalia  < 


COMSTC 

Eiig.—l 
and  roum 
very  smal 

Stage  I. 
colorless, 
elongated 
five  seta  1 

Stage  L 
hairs  all 
in  a  crowi 

Stage  I 
lobes;  wi( 
cles  I  to  I 
the  rest  \a 
line,  a  brc 
straight  t 
spine-like 

Stage  V 
width,  2.: 
wart  II,  0 
Warts  I 
sliading. 
hairs.    S< 

Stage  V 
lower  par 
composed 
Body  bro 
series  of  ] 
covering  ^ 
on  to  the 
interrupt( 
tlie  spots 
The  skin 

Cocoon. 
the  surfa( 

Pupa.— 
s))arsely  1 
cases  slig 
rounded, 


VOL.  XXI. 

le  iuner  is 
ter  line  is 
outwardly 
jyond  the 
re  or  less 
»me  speci- 
n.  There 
'  a  waved 
There  is 
the  trans- 
ice  at  the 
rse  poste- 
bterminal 
ardly  and 
to  become 
i  ordinary 
usually  a 
e,  kidney 
yellowish 
le  darker, 
)8t  cases, 
i  usually 


ountains; 
I,  in  May; 
!9;  Texas 

serted  by 
lis;  but  I 
le  larvae, 
alts  from 
fom  eggs 
t  the  two 
uish  this 
re  or  less 
8  more  or 
[ik  streak 
J,  exactly 
i  species, 
ie  yellow 
t'ty  speci- 
have  not 
form  this 
dis.  The 
3  middle. 


N...1U0.         NORTH  AMERICAN  XOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  D7AR. 


137 


The  anterior  legs  of  the  male  are  stout,  the  epiphysis  small  and  inserted 
;it  about  the  middle.  In  all  essentials  it  is  like  albaru/a  and  the 
yeiiitalia  of  the  male  are  of  the  same  type. 

LARVA. 

CoMSTOCK,  Man.  .Stud.  Ins.  (1895),  308,  lig.  374  {hamamelia). 

Effff. — Ivess  than  hemispherical,  well  reticulated,  the  vertical  ribs  low 
and  rounded,  the  cross  lines  distinct;  cells  at  the  apex  without  ribs, 
very  small  at  the  micropyle;  diameter,  0.8  mm.;  height,  0.5  mm. 

Stage  II. — 1  lead  whitish ;  width,  0.55  mm.  Body  translucent,  nearly 
colorless,  the  food  showing  green.  Warts  normal,  colorless,  1  to  III 
elongated,  each  wart  with  four  to  six  colorless  hairs,  the  central  primi- 
tive seta  the  longest.     Warts  I  and  II  nearly  in  line  on  joint  12. 

Stage  III. — Width  of  head,  0.8  mm.  All  nearly  colorless  whitish, 
hairs  all  pale.  Tubercles  I  to  III  distinctly  elongated,  with  the  hairs 
in  a  crown  at  the  vertex.    A  few  very  small  secondary  hairs. 

Stage  IV, — Head  whitish,  with  a  trace  of  brown  mottlings  on  the 
lobes;  width,  1.4  mm.  Body  whitish  or  greenish,  translucent,  tuber- 
cles I  to  III  yellow  with  a  single  seta  and  crown  of  hairs,  contrasting, 
the  rest  whitish;  several  hairs  on  wart  VI.  A  broken  yellowish  dorsal 
line,  a  broken  double  lateral  one  over  warts  II  and  III  and  a  narrow 
straight  stigmatal  line.  Subveuter  and  feet  whitish.  A  few  little 
spine-like  secondary  hairs. 

Stage  V. — Head  pale  whitish,  faintly  mottled  with  brown  in  front; 
width,  2.2  mm.  Body  translucent  whitish,  with  no  marks  below 
wart  II,  or  the  bands  of  the  preceding  stage  yellowish  and  interrupted. 
Warts  I  and  II,  surrounded  by  a  brown  ring;  a  faint  brown  dorsal 
shading.  Tubercles  with  but  one  hair,  except  VI,  which  has  several 
hairs.    Secondary  hairs  absent. 

Stage  F/.— Head  dull  purplish  red,  pale  whitisli  over  the  clypeus; 
lower  part  and  central  suture,  the  upper  two-thirds  mottled  with  spots 
composed  of  groups  of  little  whitish  dots  in  clusters;  width,  3.3  mm. 
Body  brown,  pale  whitish  ventrally;  warts  yellow,  single  haired.  A 
series  of  large,  rounded,  oblique,  pale  yellow  patches  on  joints  3  to  12, 
covering  warts  I  and  II,  tinted  with  orange  and  each  extending  a  little 
on  to  the  next  segment.  Two  lateral  rows  of  similar  spots,  smaller  and 
interrupted,  not  oblique.  Spiracles  white  with  black  borders.  Later 
the  spots  may  become  wholly  suffused  with  red,  becoming  orange  color. 
Tlie  skin  has  a  covering  of  microscopic  pile,  absent  on  the  tubercles. 

Cocoon. — Composed  "  of  bits  of  wood  and  grains  of  earth  on  or  near 
the  surface"  of  the  ground  (Goodell). 

Pupa. — Light  brown,  shining,  abdominal  segments  regularly  tapering, 
sparsely  but  distinctly  punctured  almost  to  the  posterior  border;  wing 
cases  slightly  grooved  and  shagreened.  Oremaster  rather  prominent, 
rounded,  slightly  flattened;  dorsal  hook  small,  slender,  bent  backward 


138 


rnocKEniNGS  of  the  national  museum. 


VOI^XXI. 


and  outward,  not  recurved ;  three  equally  short,  stout  lower  hooks  on 
eacii  side,  projettting  outward,  divergent  from  each  other,  slightly  bent 
down  or  doubly  bent,  not  recurved.    Length,  14  mm. 
Food  plants.— Oak,  beech,  chestnut. 

ACRONYCTA  MODICA  Walker. 

(Platos  II,  flg.  4,  adult;  IV,  flg.  9,  adult;  V,  fig.  6,  larva;  XVIII,  fig.  25,  leg;  XXI, 

fig.  26,  lualo  gi^uitalia.) 

Acronycta  modica  Walker,  Cat.  Hrit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  56;  nuTr.EH,  Ent. 

Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  3(1. 
Avromjcta  exilis  Guotk,  Proo.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Pliiln,,  1874,  p.  197. 
LepUorvima  exiUa  Orote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112.— Butlkk,  Ent.  Amer.,  1887, 

III,  p.  3G,  ?  pr.  syn.— Smith,  Bull.  U.  8.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  44,  1893,  p.  44,  pr. 

syn.— Grote,  List  Euptorotidae,  etc.,  1895,  p.  14,  an  var.  pr. 

Ground  color  a  dirty,  very  pale  yellowish  gray.  Head  with  a  dusky 
line  in  front;  collar  usually  yellow  at  base,  above  which  is  a  black  line, 
and  this  may  be  followed  by  a  paler  line  before  the  tip.  The  primaries 
have  all  the  markings  more  or  less  evident,  but  always  broken.  Basal 
line  geminate,  blackish,  marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  anterior 
line  geminate,  blackish,  always  more  or  less  broken,  but  as  a  whole  out- 
wardly oblique  or  a  little  drawn  in  near  the  middle.  The  intervening 
space  is  of  the  ground  color,  never  prominently  darkened.  The  median 
shade  line  is  marked  by  an  oblique  dash  from  the  costa  to  the  reniform, 
which  it  does  not  obscure.  Below  that  point  it  is  marked  by  black 
scales  and  is  irregular  and  outwardly  bent  on  the  veins.  Transverse 
posterior  line  geminate,  outwardly  bent  over  the  cell,  moderately 
incurved  below;  the  two  parts  nearly  evenly  developed  in  most  cases, 
but  sometimes  the  outer  line  best  emphasized  by  black  scales.  Some- 
times the  lines  are  even;  sometimes  the  outer  line  is  quite  strongly 
dentate  on  the  veins.  There  is  a  vague,  irregular,  subterminal  line 
which  is  paler  than  the  ground  color,  and  in  consequence  best  marked 
in  the  dark  specimens.  There  is  a  series  of  terminal  lunules,  some- 
times i)receded  by  a  pale  lunulate  line.  The  basal  black  streak  is 
traceable  in  all  the  specimens,  but  it  is  never  prominent,  and  sometimes 
only  a  line  of  scales;  usually  it  does  not  reach  the  transverse  anterior 
line,  and  when  it  does  is  not  distinctly  joined  with  it.  There  is  a  black 
dagger  mark  extending  from  the  subterminal  line  inward,  and  as  a  rule 
through  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  median  shade.  Another 
black  mark  extends  inwardly  from  the  subterminal  line  between  veins 
5  and  G,  and  this  does  not  in  any  of  the  specimens  before  me  extend  to 
the  transverse  posterior  line.  The  ordinary  spots  are  large;  the  orbic 
ular  round  or  nearly  so,  usually  paler  than  the  ground  color,  but  it 
may  be  marked  with  yellowish;  the  reniform  is  large,  more  or  less  con 
stricted  in  the  center,  and  marked  with  reddish  yellow.  There  is  ii 
vague  reddish  or  yellowish  shading  through  the  center  of  the  wing, 
which  is  hardly  localized,  except  in  the  ordinary  spots.  Secondaries 
smoky  in  both  sexes;  a  little  darker  in  the  female.     Beneath  yellowisli 


vol..  XXI. 


r  hooks  on 
iglitly  beut 


!5,leg;  XXI, 
lUTf.KH,  Ent. 


Ainer.,  1887, 
)3,  p.  44,  pr. 

th  a  dusky 
black  line, 
5  primaries 
en.  Basal 
86  anterior 
whole  out- 
titervening 
?be  median 
a  reniform, 
i  by  black 
Dransverse 
noderately 
aost  cases, 
es.  Some- 
B  strongly 
minal  line 
st  marked 
lies,  some- 
streak  is 
sometimes 
ie  anterior 
)  is  a  black 
i  as  a  rule 
Another 
veen  veins 
I  extend  to 
the  orbic 
lor,  but  it 
r  less  con 
Dhere  is  a 
the  wing, 
jcondarii's 
yellow  isli 


NO,  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


139 


or  smoky,  more  or  less  powdery,  and  with  a  more  or  less  obvious  outer 
line  and  discal  spot 

Kxpnnse,  1.20  to    .40  inches  (30  to  35  mm.). 

Habitat. — Massachusetts  to  Minnesota,  to  Texas;  central  New  York, 
June  and  July;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  June;  Texas,  July 
and  August. 

This  species  is  8*^111  paler  than  ovata^  which  it  resembles  by  the  peculiar 
reddish  yellow  shading  in  the  wing  and  to  which  it  is  very  closely 
allied.  It  is  a  small  species,  however,  and  slighter,  though  the  range 
of  size  overlaps.  The  wings  are  narrower  as  a  whole.  In  this  species 
the  transverse  anterior  line,  while  it  may  be  somewhat  drawn  in  at  its 
middle,  is  as  a  whole  oblique  and  never  prominently  filled  with  blackish 
scales.  The  basal  streak  which  is  so  prominent  in  ovata  is  in  this 
species  almost  entirely  wanting.  There  is  little  variation  in  the 
examples  before  me,  and  it  is  only  a  question  of  more  or  less  yellow 
and  perhaps  a  little  difference  in  size.  Walker's  description  of  the 
species  fits  this  very  well  and  fits  nothing  else  known  to  me.  Mr. 
Butler's  suggestion  that  this  is  the  same  as  Mr.  (xrote's  exUin  I  believe 
to  be  correct.  Where  there  are  only  two  or  three  examples  illustrating 
extremes,  it  may  be  possible  to  doubt  that  they  belong  to  the  same 
species,  but  with  a  goodly  array  of  specimens  no  possible  doubt  can 
arise.  The  structural  characters  oifer  nothing  to  distinguish  this 
from  the  other  species  of  the  group  either  in  head,  leg,  or  genital 
structures. 

LARVA. 

Stage  Vl. — Head  pale  whitish,  mottled  and  reticulated  with  choco- 
late brown,  darkest  in  a  dash  on  each  side  of  the  median  suture  in 
front;  width,  2.2  mm.  Tubercles  prominent,  slightly  conic,  high,  all 
single  haired  to  VI,  which  bears  over  four  hairs.  0 round  whitish, 
powdered  with  chocolate  brown,  tubercles  reddish  at  base.  A  brown 
line  above  wart  III,  defined  by  a  pale  shade  above  and  broken  only  in 
the  incisure,  extends  along  joints  3  to  12  posteriorly,  where  it  curves 
to  join  the  dorsal  line.  It  is  most  pronounced  on  joint  2.  Dorsal  line 
geminate,  obscure,  diffuse,  single  on  joints  12-13,  and  stronger.  Small, 
obliijue  dashes  before  warts  I  on  joints  5-11}  indistinct  supra  and  sub- 
stigmatal  lines,  curving  up  dorsally  on  joint  13;  a  subventral  shade 
above  wart  VI;  feet  pale.    Hairs  white,  not  long.    Warts  alike. 

Stafie  VII. — Head  large,  scarcely  bilobed;  shagreened,  shiny,  light 
brown,  mottled  and  reticulated  with  brown,  a  blackish  band  from  each 
lobe  above,  parallel  to  median  suture  meeting  a  brown  v-shaped  mark 
which  borders  the  clypeus,  passing  on  to  the  paired  pieces  above;  a 
heavy  brown  mottling  over  the  eye,  passing  backward;  width,  3.3  mm. 
Body  smooth,  cylindrical,  joint  12  slightly  enlarged,  light  brown,  shaded 
with  blackish.  A  broad  black  subdorsal  shade,  broken  at  the  incisures, 
defined  above  by  whitish  reaches  from  joint  2  to  12,  where  the  shade 
curves  sharply  dorsad  in  the  incisure  12-13,  forming  a  black  mark  on 


-     II 


v  -t 

il  *"* 

t  t* 


■■i 


i 


Itt! 


140 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXL 


the  dorsum  of  13  and  anal  plate.  A  faint  mottled  geminate  dorsal  line, 
rather  sharply  defined  (m  joints  11  and  12  in  a  shaded  v  mark.  Rest 
of  body  somewhat  mottled,  but  no  distinct  markings.  Warts  very 
small,  pale,  single-haired  except  VI,  which  bears  several  hairs.  Several 
hairs  on  the  leg  plate.  Skin  with  microscopic  pile,  absent  on  the 
tubercles.    Setae  short,  dusky.    Length,  2.'>  mm. 

C'ocoow.— "Webbed  up  between  leaves."    (Riley.) 

PMi)a.— Slender,  tapering,  light  brown,  shining,  abdominal  segments 
sparsely  finely  punctured  to  the  posterior  border ;  wing  cases  sliagreened. 
Cromaster  low,  rather  wide,  rounded,  coarsely  wrinkled,  blackish; 
upper  hook  slender,  proie(!ting  backward  and  bent  downward,  lower 
hooks  stout,  two  on  each  side,  divergent,  shortly  recurved  at  the  tips. 
Length,  15  mm. 

Food  plant. — Oak. 

ACRONYCTA   CLARESCENS   Guen^e. 

(Plates  III,  flg.  -A,  iKlult;  XII,  (ig.  II,  female  adult;  XVII,  lig.  ai,  leg;  XXI,  fig.  27,  male 

genitalia.) 

Aoronyota  rlareaecna  Gijeni;:k,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852, 1,  p.  54.— Walk kr,  Cat.  Brit 

MuN.,  Het.,  185«,  IX,  p.  60.-BuTLKn,  Ei.t.  Aiaer.,  1887,  III,  p.  36,  hamamelis. 
Apalda  hnesUata  Grotk,  Hull.  U.  8.  Geol.  Surv.,  IHS'J,  VI,  p.  575. 
Lepitoreuma  haraitata  Ghote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112. 

(Ground  color  an  even  ash  gray,  sometimes  with  a  faint  suggestion  of 
a  yellowish  shading.     Head  usually  with  a  dusky  line  in  front;  collar 
with  a  dusky  line  at  base  and  sometimes  a  smaller  line  just  below  the 
tip.    Primaries  with  all  the  markings  quite  well  distinguished.    Basal 
line  geminate,  smoky,  marked  on  the  costa  only.    Transverse  anterior 
line  geminate,  smoky  or  blackish,  almost  evenly  oblique,  a  little  out- 
curved  between  the  veins  in  some  specimens.    The  inner  portion  is 
usually  a  little  better  marked  and  sometimes  black;  the  intervening 
space  usually  of  the  ground  color;  but  toward  the  middle  of  its  course 
it  tends  to  become  filled  with  smoky  or  blackish  scales.    Median  shade 
line  marked  on  the  costa,  but  usually  becoming  less  until  it  reappears 
in  some  specimens  below  the  reniform.    It  is  then  very  feebly  marked 
and  smoky,  running  parallel  as  a  whole  to  the  transverse  posterior 
line.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is  geminate,  the  outer  portion  of 
the  line  black,  the  intervening  space  whitish,  the  inner  line  smoky  and 
sometimes  hardly  traceable,  the  outer  more  or  less  broken,  usually  very 
narrow,  but  sometimes  composed  of  lunules  and  quite  distinct.    There 
is  a  more  or  less  evident  pale  subterminal  line,  beyond  which  the  ter- 
minal space  is  darker  and  sometimes  black  marked.    A  series  of 
terminal  black  lunules  is  preceded  by  a  paler  line,  and  the  fringes 
beyond  it  are  cut  with  smoky.    There  is  a  basal  black  dash  which  as  a 
rale  does  not  reach  the  transverse  anterior  line— in  fact,  in  the  over 
thirty  specimens  examined  by  me  it  does  not  reach  the  line  in  any  case, 
^here  i.s  a  fairly  evident  dagger  mark  extending  from  the  subterminal 
line  in  the  submedian  interspace,  inwardly  through  the  transverse 
posterior  line;  but  this  may  disappear  entirely  in  some  specimens.    A 


vouxu 

lorsalline, 
irk.  liost 
'arts  vfiry 
I.  Several 
lit  on  the 


segnients 
agreened. 
blackish; 
ird,  lower 
;  the  tips. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUWAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR, 


141 


fig.  27,  male 

I,  Cat.  Brit. 
manelis. 


gestion  of 
ut;  collar 
below  the 
J.    Basal 
3  anterior 
little  out- 
(ortion  is 
^ervening 
ts  course 
an  shade 
eappears 
y  marked 
posterior 
ortion  of 
fioky  and 
ally  very 
'j.    There 
1  the  ter- 
series  of 
B  fringes 
liich  as  a 
the  over 
my  case, 
terminal 
ansverse 
lens.    A 


rthorter  dagger  mark  extends  inwardly  from  the  snbterminal  line 
lietwecn  veins  5  and  (5,  but  does  not  in  any  case  reach  the  transverse 
posterior  line.  In  some  specimens  there  are  traces  of  a  claviforin. 
Ordinary  Hi)OtH  fairly  evident;  the  orbi(!ular  large,  round  or  oval,  gen- 
tially  i)aler  but  with  a  dark  center;  reniform  upright,  large,  a  little 
constricted  at  the  middle;  it  may  or  may  not  be  marked  with  yellowish, 
and  irf  some  cases  there  is  a  slight  yellowish  tinge  through  the  cell. 
Secoi'daries  smoky  in  both  sexes,  hardly  darker  in  the  females. 
IJcneath  yellowish,  more  or  less  powdery,  with  an  outer  line  and  discal 
spot  variably  marked. 

Expanse,  I.'JO  to  1.(50  inches  (30  to  40  mm.). 

llahitat. — Canada  to  Arizona  and  Texas;  New  Hampshire  in  May; 
Kittcry  Point,  Maine,  in  June;  Massachusetts  in  May;  central  New 
York  in  ilune. 

Mr.  Butler  has  referred  this  species  to  hamamclis  Guenee;  but  he  has 
evidtntly  confused  what  Mr.  Grote  separated  as  haesitata  with  the  true 
hamameUs.  Guenc^e's  description  of  darmcens  ap])lies  perfectly  to 
haesitata,  and  this  author  pointed  out  very  clearly  the  difterence 
between  this  species  and  his  hamamelis.  This  species  seems  also  to 
iiave  been  bred  by  some  collectors  from  larvae  which  they  did  not  dis- 
tingnish  from  those  of  hamamelis,  and  the  contention  is,  as  a  rule,  that 
the  species  are  the  same;  but  there  are  a  series  of  characters  which 
always  suffice  to  separate  clarescena  from  any  hamamdis  that  I  have 
over  seen.  In  the  tirst  place  this  species  is  always  a  paler  ashen  gray. 
It  is  always  more  smoothly  and  evenly  marked,  and  is  never  so  com- 
pletely obscured  by  the  dusky  powderings.  The  transverse  anterior 
line  is  never  completely  filled  with  dark  scales,  as  is  the  rule  in  hama- 
mdis. There  is  an  approach,  however,  to  this  in  some  specimens, 
where  the  line  becomes  emphasized  in  the  middle  of  its  course.  In 
hamamelis  I  have  not  seen  any  specimen  in  which  there  was  a  dagger 
murk  through  the  subterminal  line  in  the  submedian  interspace,  while 
except  in  one  instance  this  dagger  mark  is  evident  everywhere  in 
darescena.  In  general  structure  there  is  no  difference  as  compared 
with  the  other  species;  but  the  anterior  femur  is  rather  more  dilated 
toward  the  base  than  is  usual,  and  there  is  a  rather  abrupt  narrowing 
toward  the  base;  otherwise  it  agrees  with  the  other  species. 

ACRONYCTA  HAMAMELIS  Guen6e. 

(Plates  II,  figs.  1, 2,  3,  adults;  XII,  lig.  12,  female  adult;  XVIII,  ttg.  9,  palpus;  XXI, 

fig.  28,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronycla  hamamelis  Guenke,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p.  52.— Walker,  Cat. 

Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  59.— Butler,  Ent.  Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  36. 
Lejntoretima  hamamelis  Grotb,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112. 
Hyhoma  hamamelis  Grote,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3, 1896,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  a  dirty  ash  gray,  more  or  less  overlaid  by  black  scales, 
which  are  prominently  uplifted.  Head  quite  smoky  and  almost  always 
with  a  more  or  less  evident  black  band  crossing  the  front.    In  pale 


142 


PROCEEniXaS  of  the  NATIOXAI  MrSEVM. 


vomxi. 


N«.  1140. 


mm  fli 


speciiiioiis  there  '\n  a  black  l)aiul  between  the  antennae.    CoUar  with  ii 
black  band  at  base  anU  another  near  the  tip.     Patagiae  bla«!k  powdered. 
The  priinarieH  have  all  the  niarkiiiKu  evident.    The  ImHal  line  Is  Konii 
nate,  black,  and  usually  reaches  to  the  middle  ot  the  wing.    The  trans 
veiHe  anterior   line   iw   geminate,  black,  the  two  psirts  e(jnally  well 
marked,  the  intervening  space  more  or  less  dusky.    As  a  whole,  it  In 
very  even,  and  slightly  oblique  from  costa  to  inner  margin.     Th.- 
meduiii  line  is  usually  marked  on  the  eosta,  and  in  the  best  cases 
extends  obli(iuely  to  the  reniform,  below  which  it  is  again  marked  as  a 
smoky  shade  line  to  the  inner  margin,  running  a  little  oblhiue  inwardly 
and  somewhat  lunulate.    The  transverse  posterior  line  is  geminate, 
black,  scjuarely  bent  over  the  cell  and  as  squarely  bent  in  below.    The 
outer  line  is  usually  even  and  rather  more  distinct  than  the  inner, 
which  is  usually  lunulate,  in  strong  contrast  to  the  general  rule.    Th(« 
intervening  space  is  perhaps  a  little  paler  than  the  ground  color,  but 
not  contrasting.    The  subterminal  line  is  more  or  less  evident,  in  all 
cases  very  irregular,  pale,  detlned  by  blackish  or  smoky  shadings,  whi(;h 
are  more  prominent  in  the  terminal  space  than  before.    There  is  a  series 
of  black  terminal  lunules  preceded  by  a  lunulate  pale  line;  the  fringes 
are  cut  with  smoky.    The  basal  space  is  more  or  less  black  HIUhI,  and 
there  is  visible  an  indetined  black  line  from  the  base  to  the  transverse 
anterior  line,  which  is  not  prominent  and  does  not  indent  the  trans- 
verse anterior  line  in  the  least.    There  are  no  dagger  nuirks  beyond 
the  transverse  posterior  line.     In  some  specimens,  usually  where  the 
base  is  dark,  there  is  a  very  distinct  dusky  shading,  somewhat  tri- 
angular in  outline,  beginning  in  the  submedian  interspace  Just  inside 
of  the  transverse  posterior  line  and  broadening  to  the  outer  margin,  so 
that  it  includes  all  the  space  between  veins  2  and  6.    This  Is  not  present 
in  all  specimens  however,  and  is,  as  stated,  usually  associated  with 
forms  iu  which  there  is  a  tendency  to  a  dark  basal  space.    The  ordi 
nary  spots  are  evident  and  sometimes  <iuite  distinct.    The  orbicular  is 
round,  or  nearly  so,  ringed  with  black  scales,  a  little  paler  than  the 
ground  color,  but  with  a  large  dusky  center.    The  reniform  is  largo, 
kidney  shaped,  rather  indefinitely  outlined  by  black  scales,  and  more 
or  less  obscured  in  the  center.    The  secondaries  are  smoky,  with  a  more 
or  less  evident  yellowish  tinge.    Beneath  smoky  or  yellowish,  powdery, 
both  wings  with  an  outer  line  and  a  discal  spot. 

Expanse,  1.25  to  1.55  inches  (31  to  38  mm.). 

5aMto^.— Canada  to  Texas,  west  to  South  Dakota  and  the  base  of 
the  Bocky  Mountains;   Maine,  June  and  July;  Minnesota  in  June; 
Missouri  in  March;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  June;  cen 
tral  New  York,  July;  Vermont  iu  July. 

This  is  a  distinctly  variable  species  in  certain  directions;  nevertho 
less  when  once  properly  separated  out,  the  variation  is  seen  to  consist 
rather  in  the  relative  distinctness  of  certain  spaces  tlian  in  any  real 
change  in  the  markings.  The  simplest  form  is  one  in  which  the  entire 
ground  color  is  evenly  powdered  with  smoky  or  blackish.    In  this  none 


Yot.ixr. 

olliir  with  a 
c  povvderod. 

Tlio  tnuis 
Hiially  woll 
whole,  it  is 
rgiu.     Thf 

bo8t  cases 
iiiii'ked  as  a 
le  inwanlly 
«  ^eniinato, 
K^low.    Tho 

the  inner, 

rule.  Tli(> 
I  color,  but 
[lent,  in  all 
IngH,  wln(!h 
3  is  a  series 
the  fringes 
:  tilled,  and 

transver.si! 

the  trans- 
fks  beyond 

where  the 
lewhat  tri- 
JHSt  inside 
marjyin,  so 
lot  present 
liated  with 

The  ordi 
irbiciilar  is 
r  than  the 
n  is  large, 
,  and  more 
i'ith  a  more 
I,  powdery, 


he  base  of 
.  in  June; 
lunej  ceil- 

ueverthe 
to  consist 

n  any  real 
the  entire 

I  this  none 


NO   lUO. 


NORTH  AMF.RTVAX  NOCTUTnAE—SMITn  AND  DYAR. 


143 


of  th(>  MiarkingH  are  prominent,  and  the  elevated  scales  are  distinctly 
visible.  Another  nuiy  become  slightly  paler  thronghout,  except  for  the 
lines  and  other  markings,  and  in  such  cases  there  will  be  more  (;oiitrast 
and  the  nuiculation  will  be  more  distinct.  The  tendency  is  to  the 
Ibrmation  of  a  band  over  the  transverse  anterior  line.  Tlu<  two  parts 
of  the  line  are  unusiuilly  well  separated  arul  <|uite  even,  tiie  space 
hctween  them  blackish.  The  lower  part  of  the  basal  space  also  tends 
to  become  powdered,  and  sometimes  the  entire  region  is  more  or  less 
shaded.  In  such  cases  the  me<lian  space  is  tisually  contrasting,  and 
\\i'  get  another  triangular  shade  extending  from  the  outer  part  of  the 
median  space  to  the  outer  margin.  This  species  never  has  a  dagger 
mark  running  inwardly  from  above  the  anal  angle,  and  it  is  therefore 
separable  in  all  cases  from  dareHcvnH.  I  have  seen  no  specimen,  out  of 
nearly  two  hundred  that  I  had  for  examination,  which  I  could  not 
readily  refer  to  either  hamameliH  or  clarcHccnH  without  hesitation.  Home 
faded  specimens  or  rubbed  examples  of  hamamdis  nniy  at  tlrst  seem  to 
resemble  clareHcem)  but  a  very  little  study  will  show  the  ditterence 
between  the  two  very  distinctly.  There  is  nothing  that  is  at  all  char- 
acteristic or  ditferent  from  the  rest  of  the  series  in  structural  (dnirac- 
ters;  but  as  compared  with  darescem  the  anterior  femur  is  decidedly 
more  slender.  The  species  is  a  comracm  one  and  has  been  often  bred. 
1  am  not  aware,  however,  that  any  number  has  been  raised  from  a  sin- 
file  batch  of  eggs,  and  any  suggestion  that  a  series  of  specimens  were 
specifically  identical  merely  because  the  larvae  seemed  to  be  so,  can  not 
be  considered  as  proof  of  the  fa<!t  asserted  until  it  has  been  shown 
that  there  was  no  variation  in  the  larvae. 

LARVA. 

GueniJ;e,  Spec.  Gen.  Noot.,  1852, 1,  p.  52  (ftrMwosa),— Ooodbll,  Can.  Ent.,  1877,  IX, 
p.  61  (ftanittme/is).— Pa(;kakd,  Fifth  Ropfc.  U.  S.  Ent.  Coiuiii.,  1890,  p.  109 
{hrumosa) ;  Fifth  Kept.  U.  8.  Ent.  Comm.,  1890,  p.  169  {ovata). 

Staye  I. — Whitish,  translucent,  setae  all  white  except  two  on  the 
cervical  shield,  single,  pointed,  no  subprimaries ;  I  and  II  in  a  square  on 
joint  12.  Tubercles  large,  white;  no  marks,  but  the  food  gives  a  green- 
ish tint.    Head  round,  whitish  or  slightly  testaceous;  width,  0.3  mm. 

Stage  II. —  Head  sharply  bilobed,  white;  width,  0.4  mm.  Body  color- 
less, the  food  green.  Tubercles  white,  high,  with  central  seta  and 
crown  of  about  four  shorter  but  equally  thick  ones.  Warts  IV  and  V 
single  haired,  not  high;  VI  of  two  small  setae. 

Stagelll. — Head,0.7mm.;  whitish,  body  faintly  greenish;  wartsslen- 
der,  long,  smooth,  conic,  concolorous,  with  central  seta  and  small 
dit!'use  crown;  all  white,  I-III;  IV  smaller,  V  single  haired,  VI  with 
several  long  hairs.  No  secondary  setae  except  possibly  subventrally 
on  joint  12-13. 

Stage  IV. — Ilead,  1.1  mm. ;  whitish,  tubercles  on  the  epicrauium  yeiiow 
and  a  brown  dot  below  the  upper  tubercle.    Body  greenish,  tubercles 


^il    I 


_J_. 


144 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


It 

I 


yellow  with  some  dots  around  I  and  II.  Hairs  white,  single,  with  small 
bristly  crown  of  secondary  hairs. 

Staga  V. — Mead,  1.8  mm.    As  before. 

Stttf/e  F/.— Head,  2.5  mm.  wide ;  pale  whitish,  granular,  a  small  brown 
reticular  streak  on  each  lobe  above.  Tubercles  large,  single  haired 
with  a  trace  of  the  crown  of  short  hairs.  Tubercles  yellow,  as  also  a 
dorsal,  subdorsal  and  lateral  row  of  spots.  Ground  color  sordid,  faintly 
reddish  tinted. 

Stage  FJ7.— Brown,  a  blotched  dusky  blackish  dorsal  stripe,  cut  by 
pale  areas  around  warts  I  and  II;  these  areas  reddish  brown,  concolor- 
ous  with  the  body.  Sides  slightly  mottled.  Tubercles  and  setae  white, 
spiracles  black.    Otherwise  as  in  ovata. 

Food  plants. — Oak,  chestnut,  birch. 

ACRONYCTA  INCRETA  Morrison. 

(Plate  XII,  iig.  13,  female  adult.) 

Acronycta  increta  Moukison,  Proc.  Boat.  Soc,  N.  H.,  1874,  XVII,  p.  131. 
Lepitorcuma  increta  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112. 

Ground  color  very  dark  smoky  gray  with  a  slight  yellowish  shad- 
ing. Head  without  distinct  markings;  collar  usually  dark  at  base; 
patagiae  black  powdered.  Primaries  with  all  the  markings  distinct. 
Basal  line  black,  geminate,  reaching  to  the  inception  of  vein  1.  Trans- 
verse anterior  line  black,  geminate,  very  evenly  oblique,  the  space 
between  the  two  defining  lines  more  or  less  black  filled.  The  median 
line  is  marked  on  tiie  costa  and  again  below  the  reniform,  but  it  is 
usually  obscure  and  not  distinctly  traceable.  The  transverse  posterior 
line  is  geminate,  black,  squarely  bent  outwardly,  and  almost  as  squarely 
bent  in  on  the  submedian  interspace.  There  is  a  very  obscure  sub- 
terminal  line,  which  is  best  marked  in  the  pale  specimens,  and  empha- 
sized by  the  slightly  darker  terminal  space.  There  is  a  series  of  ter- 
minal dots  or  lunules  from  which  black  rays  are  sent  inwardly,  more  or 
less  defining  a  lunulate  terminal  pale  line.  There  is  a  broken  and 
irregular  black  line  at  base,  which  reaches  the  transverse  anterior 
line,  but  does  not  always  reach  the  root  of  the  wing.  There  are  no 
dagger  marks.  The  ordinary  spots  are  of  moderate  size  and  not  well 
defined.  The  orbicular  is  round,  of  the  ground  color  or  a  little  paler, 
with  a  dusky  center.  The  reniform  is  large,  upright,  slightly  drawn  iu 
at  the  outer  margin.  The  secondaries  are  smoky,  a  little  paler  in  the 
males.  Beneath  smoky,  more  or  less  powdery,  with  a  dusky  outer  line 
which  is  much  the  best  marked  on  the  secondaries  and  a  more  or  less 
evident  discal  lunule. 

Expanse,  1.16  to  1.28  inches  (29  to  32  mm.). 

Habitat.— l^ew  York;  New  Jersey;  Texas;  New  Mexico. 

This  species  resembles  hamamelis,  but  is  distinctly  smaller  through- 
out, decidedly  narrower  winged,  and  as  a  whole  much  darker.    Of  the 


eight  spe 
that  he  i 
any  mean 
It  may  bt 
hamameli 
ii  faint  g 
are  much 
row  wing 


(Plates  I 

Microcc 
En 

Acromji 
pl.i 

Lepitori 
Mu 

Ground 
Primaries 
ing  iiearh 
nate,  blac 
the  costal 
base  of  tl 
ing  obliqi 
running  c 
The  trans 
black,  the 
site  the  ai 
There  is  a 
ences  iu  s 
the  base 
There  is  a 
trans  vers( 
posterior 
suggestioi 
transversa 
ordinary 
the  orbicu 
smoky  cei 
ground  co 
to  smoky 
paler,  mo 
present,  b 
Expans 
Habitat 
chusetts  i 
Pro 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NQCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


145 


,  with  small 


mall  brown 
igle  haired 
^,  as  also  a 
did,  faiutly 

fipe,  cut  by 
Q,  concolor- 
etae  white, 


131. 

wish  shad- 
k  at  base; 
fs  distinct. 
1.  Traus- 
the  space 
he  median 
I,  but  it  is 
e  posterior 
IS  squarely 
scure  sub- 
iid  empha- 
ries  of  ter- 
iy,  more  or 
rokeii  and 
e  anterior 
Bre  are  no 
d  not  well 
ttlo  paler, 
y  drawn  in 
iler  in  the 
'  outer  line 
>re  or  less 


r  througli- 
L'.    Of  the 


eight  specimens  before  me  seven  were  collected  by  Mr.  Doll,  who  says 
that  ho  finds  the  pupae  very  early  in  spring.  The  species  is  not  by 
any  means  a  common  one,  and  is  but  rarely  represented  in  collections. 
It  may  be  that  it  is  sometimes  taken  and  discarded  as  an  undersized 
hamamelis.  One  specimen  has  a  very  dark  smoky  ground  color,  with 
a  faint  greenish  tint  that  is  quite  characteristic,  but  other  specimens 
iire  much  like  the  average  run  of  hamamelis,  except  for  the  size  and  nar- 
row wings.    There  is  nothing  characteristic  in  the  structural  details. 

ACRONYCTA  RETARDATA  Walker. 
(Plates  II,  fig. .%  adult ;  XII,  fig,  14,  female  adult;  XXI,  fig.  29,  male  geaitalia.) 

Miciocoelia  retardaia  Walker,  Can.  Nat.  «fc  Geol.,  1861,  VI,  p.  38.— Gkote,  Cau. 

£nt.,  1877,  IX,  p.  26  =  dj«8ec<a. 
Acronycta  diasecta  Gkote  aud  Robinson,  Traua.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  1870,  III,  p.  178, 

pl.ii ,  fig.  81. 
Lepitoreuma  diasecta  GnoTE,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  113.— Smith,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat. 

Mu8.,  No.  44,  1893,  p.  45,  pr.  eyn. 

Ground  color  whitish  gray.  Collar  with  a  dusky  line  at  base. 
Trimaries  with  all  the  markings  evident.  Basal  line  geminate,  reach- 
ing nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  wing.  Transverse  anterior  line  gemi-. 
nate,  black,  outwardly  oblique  and  a  little  curved.  A  black  mark  on 
the  costal  vein  seems  to  bring  the  inner  part  of  the  line  to  the  extreme 
base  of  the  wing.  The  median  line  is  well  marked  on  the  costa,  extend- 
ing obliquely  to  the  reniform  and  rather  vaguely  marked  below,  though 
running  close  along  the  transverse  posterior  line  to  the  outer  margin. 
The  transverse  posterior  line  is  geminate,  both  lines  luuulate,  smoky  to 
black,  the  intervening  space  whitish,  on  the  whole  best  marked  oppo- 
site the  anal  angle.  It  is  rather  evenly  and  not  too  strongly  bisinuate. 
There  is  a  vaguely  marked  subterminal  line,  indicated  rather  by  differ- 
ences in  shading  than  in  any  other  way.  A  series  of  black  dots  is  at 
the  base  of  the  fringes,  beyond  which  they  are  cut  with  brownish. 
There  is  an  incomplete  and  usually  indefined  line  from  the  base  to  the 
transverse  anterior  line.  Opposite  the  cell  the  space  to  the  transverse 
posterior  line  is  darkened,  and  in  some  specimens  there  is  a  vague 
.suggestion  of  a  dagger  mark.  Sometimes  the  shading  beyond  the 
transverse  posterior  line  is  rather  prominent  opposite  the  cell.  The 
ordinary  spots  are  large,  incompletely  defined,  and  not  contrasting; 
the  orbicular  of  the  ground  color,  ringed  with  black  scales,  and  with  a 
smoky  central  dot;  the  reniform  large,  a  little  kidney  shaped,  of  the 
ground  color,  usually  with  a  dusky  central  luuule.  Secondaries  white 
to  smoky,  darker  in  the  females.  Beneath  smoky;  the  secondaries 
paler,  more  powdery.  An  outer  line  and  a  discal  spot  are  usually 
present,  but  always  most  distinct  on  the  secondaries. 

Expanse,  1.08  to  1.20  inches  (27  to  30  mm.). 

Habitat. — Canada  to  Yirgiuia;  west  to  the  Mississippi  Valley;  Massa- 
chusetts in  July ;  central  New  York  in  June  and  July. 
Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 10 


i'  !il 


146 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XX  f 


This  is  the  smallest  species  of  the  series,  and  as  compared  with  the 
others  the  wings  are  a  little  more  triangular  and  broader  for  their 
length.  It  is  also  the  palest  species,  and,  as  a  rule,  the  median  space 
is  much  the  palest  part  of  the  wing;  the  basal  space  being  darker, 
and  the  dark  shadings  along  the  the  transverse  posterior  line  obscur 
iug  that  part  of  the  wing.  The  variation  is  all  in  the  direction  of  sul'- 
fusion,  and  I  have  seen  examples  that  are  dark  greenish  smoky,  with 
the  ordinary  lines  and  spots  of  the  usual  whitish  gray  color,  and,  tliere- 
fore,  strongly  constrasting.  While  the  sexual  characters  are  on  tlie 
whole  referable  to  this  group,  there  is  a  distinct  tendency  toward 
structures  like  that  found  in  noctivaga  in  the  next  group.  The  claspcr 
is  more  hook-like  and  evenly  developed  than  in  the  other  species  referrtil 
here.  In  other  respects  the  structural  characters  correspond  to  those 
with  which  the  species  is  associated. 


5t 


LARVA. 

Stage  JJ.— Head  bilobed;  width,  0.4  mm.  Larva  all  whitish,  no 
marks;  warts  concolorous.  Several  hairs  from  each  wart  alike,  not  in 
a  crown  of  shorter  ones;  stiff  and  not  long  except  from  joint  2;  white, 
some  of  the  dorsal  ones  dark. 

Stage  III. — Resting  with  the  head  turned  on  one  side  on  the  under 
side  of  the  leaf.  Head  bilobed,  high,  pale  yellowish,  dotted  with  a 
more  opaque  color ;  width,  0.7  mm.  Body  greenish,  paler  subventrally ; 
warts  round,  knob-like,  I  to  III,  large,  pale  yellow;  IV  to  VI,  siniill, 
greenish.  Hairs  few,  coarse,  white;  some  of  the  dorsal  ones  blackish. 
Segments  slightly  annulate,  faintly  concolorously  streaked  trans- 
versely; a  broken  white  dorsal  Hue. 

Stage  IV. — Head  pale  brown,  mottled  on  the  vertex;  width,  1.2  mm. 
Body  with  a  vinous  brown  streak  below  warts  I  and  II,  reaching  wart 
III.  Segments  folded,  annulate,  more  whitish  on  the  folds.  Warts  I 
to  HI  reddish.    A  white  dorsal  line;  hairs  pale. 

Stage  F.— Resting  on  the  upper  side  of  the  leaf.  Head  slightly 
bilobed,  whitish,  mottled  with  brown  dots;  width,  1.8  mm.  Body 
whitish,  with  four  wine-red  transverse  stripes  on  each  segment,  cross- 
ing the  dorsum  to  wart  III,  distinct  between  warts  II  and  III,  faint 
dorsally,  the  second  stripe  converted  into  a  double  rounded  spot 
between  the  warts  of  row  I.  Warts  I  to  III,  pale  orange,  the  rest  (!on 
colorous  with  the  body;  wart  II  smaller  tlian  I,  IV  and  V  small.  Hair 
rather  long,  except  from  warts  I  and  II,  where  they  are  shorter  and 
dark. 

Stage  FJ.— Head  whitish,  mottled  with  pale  brown,  a  row  of  darker 
dots  close  to  the  sutures  of  clypeus  and  median  suture;  width,  2.5  mm. 
Dorsum  to  the  spiracles  shatled  with  purplish  and  containing  the  trans 
verse  bands,  lateral  region,  venter  and  feet  yellowish  waxen  white. 
Dorsal  segment.^  with  five  dark  vinous  red  bands,  reaching  wart  111. 
First  nearly  cut  dorsally  and  not  reaching  so  far  down  the  sides  as  the 


VOL.  XXI. 

red  with  the 
er  for  their 
ediaii  space 
sing  darker, 
line  obscnr- 
[Jtion  of  sul'- 
unoky,  witli 
,  aud,  there- 
are  on  the 
ncy  toward 
The  claspcr 
3iesreferri'il 
nd  to  those 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


147 


whitish,  no 
dike,  not  in 
it  2;  white, 

1  the  under 
"ted  witli  a 
bventrally; 
0  VI,  small, 
3s  blackish, 
ked   traus- 

th,  1.2  mm. 
iching  wart 
.    Warts  I 

ad  slightly 
jm.  Body 
oent,  cross- 
d  III,  fiiint 
nded  spot 
le  rest  (!on 
mall.  Hair 
horter  and 

7  of  darker 
th,  2.5  111  in, 
J  the  trans 
ixen  white. 
a;'  wart  111. 
lides  as  the 


others;  second  broken  by  tubercles  I,  the  dorsal  segments  formed  into 
ii  pair  of  rounded  spots,  third  broken  by  wart  II,  its  dorsal  segment 
fiiint,  but  continuous;  fourth  narrow,  faint  dorsally;  fifth  in  the  incisure, 
as  long  as  the  first  band.  Warts  I  and  II,  and  also  III  in  a  less  degree, 
short,  erect,  smooth  cylinders,  bearing  a  crown  of  stitt"  black  hairs;  IV 
to  VI  small  and  with  few  soft  whitish  hairs.  No  secondary  hairs. 
Skin  points  minute,  rather  sparse,  a  little  larger  in  the  round  ad-dorsal 
dot  formed  of  the  second  band. 

Cocoon. — Small,  not  very  tliick,  composed  of  silk  and  bits  of  wood, 
or  leaves  bitten  up. 

Pupa. — Smooth,  brown,  tapering,  the  abdominal  segments  coarsely 
and  densely  punctured  nearly  or  quite  to  the  shagreened  posterior 
incisure;  wing  cases  not  grooved  and  only  slightly  wrinkled.  Cre- 
uiaster  a  low,  wide  prominence,  usually  broad  and  sessile,  not  differen- 
tiated in  color  or  sculpturing  from  the  rest  of  the  pupa.  Above  on  each 
side  one,  below  two  short,  thick,  black  spines,  projecting  obliquely  out- 
ward, conic,  their  tips  not  recurved.    Length,  8  mm. 

Food  plant. — Maple. 

Group  AURICOMA. 

All  the  species  of  this  group  have  the  vestiture  more  or  less  elevated  • 
or  roughened,  and  the  primaries  so  powdered  that  the  raaculationship 
is  obscured.  There  are  no  distinct  black  daggers  or  dashes  except  in 
jcyliniformis,  which  is  the  best  marked  species  of  the  group  and  the 
only  one  in  which  the  transverse  maculatiou  is  at  all  clearly  defined. 
As  a  rule  the  tendency  is  to  a  longitudinal  suffusion  or  strigate  type  of 
maculatiou.  There  seem  to  be  two  or  three  series  represented,  derived 
from  different  points  in  the  loheliae  group,  but  difficult  to  define.  All 
of  them,  however,  come  from  one  of  the  types  in  which  the  vestiture  is 
roughened. 

IlUta  and  luteicoma  are  obvious  derivatives  of  the  brumosa  type  or 
of  some  form  between  it  and  2>runi,  from  which  also  xyliniformis  and  its 
allies  can  be  drawn  in  a  different  direction.  All  these  forms  are  long 
winged  and  tend  to  a  lanceolate  type,  the  median  linesbecoming  strongly 
dentate. 

NocUvaga,  sperata,  emaculata,  impressa,  and  distans  are  smaller 
8])ecies,  very  similar  in  type  of  maculation,  with  short,  obtuse,  trig- 
onate  primaries,  and  an  evident  tendency  to  the  connecta-alni  type  of 
maculatiou. 

Luteicoma  and  illita  are  long  and  rather  narrow-winged  species,  the 
outer  margin  of  primaries  being  oblique,  rounded,  and  with  the  apices 
a  little  marked.  The  ground  color  is  ash  gray,  and  the  maculation  is 
only  a  little  darker.  All  the  transverse  lines  and  the  ordinary  spots 
are  traceable,  though  broken;  but  there  are  no  longitudinal  streaks, 
dashes,  or  shades,  and  no  tendencies  to  a  strigate  type  of  maculation. 

Illita  is  from  the  Kocky  Mountain  region,  with  the  piimaries  much 
darker  and  the  secondaries  much  lighter  than  in  the  Eastern  luteicoma. 


;l 


148 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  voi.xxi. 


a\ 

i  I 

l4 


In  the  latter  there  is  a  distinct  luteous  shading,  especially  well  marked 
in  the  secondaries,  of  which  there  is  no  trace  in  the  former. 

Sperata,  emaculata,  distana,  impresm,  and  noctivaga  have  short,  stumpy, 
trigonate  primaries.  All  of  them  have  a  distinct,  round  orbicular,  a 
very  large,  smudgy  reniform,  all  the  transverse  lines  distinct,  and  a  more 
or  less  obvious  median  shade  line. 

iS^erato,  which  is  of  a  very  pale  ash  gray,  has  no  other  markings,  and 
even  what  there  is  does  not  contrast.  It  is  an  inconspicuous,  powdery 
form,  and  recognizable  thereby. 

Emaculata  is  quite  as  powdery,  but  very  much  darker,  so  the  black 
lines  do  not  distinctly  contrast.  It  has  added  a  black,  shaded  streak 
at  base,  a  black  claviforra,  and  a  dusky  shade  near  the  anal  angle. 

Distans  is  much  paler  gray  in  ground  color,  hence  the  black  lines  hm\ 
markings  contrast  more  decidedly.  The  markings  are  as  in  the  pre- 
vious species,  but  the  shadings  below  the  submedian  vein  are  more 
diffuse  and  prominent,  and  usually  darken  the  wing  from  base  to  anal 
angle.  There  is  often  a  break,  howeyer,  between  the  claviform  and  the 
transverse  posterior  line  in  this  dusky  shade.  As  a  whole  the  prima- 
ries are  narrower  and  more  pointed,  and  on  analysis  the  resemblance 
to  alni  becomes  strongly  evident. 

Impressa  is  broader  winged  and  has  the  apices  of  primaries  less 
marked.  It  is  a  clearer  gray  form,  with  all  the  markings  distinctly 
written,  and  there  is  no  continuous  dark  shading  through  the  lower 
half  of  primaries.  In  the  female  the  transverse  anterior  line  is  always 
distinct,  while  in  distans  it  is  almost  always  broken  and  obscured.  Din- 
tans  and  impressa  are  very  closely  allied,  and  I  would  scarcely  have 
cared  to  separate  them  on  imaginal  cliaracters  had  not  Dr.  Dyar  noted 
a  dift'erence  in  the  larvae,  which  gave  additional  value  to  the  points 
above  noted.  With  extremes  at  hand,  no  difficulties  can  arise,  nor  if 
there  is  a  good  series  of  each  form  for  comparison;  but  with  a  small 
number  of  variable  specimens  it  may  not  be  easy  to  decide  as  to  the 
species. 

Noctivaga  is  sharply  defined  by  its  mottled  black  and  white  appear- 
ance. The  ground  color  is  white,  or  nearly  so,  and  all  the  lines,  spots, 
shades,  and  dashes  are  black  and  ditfuse.  The  secondaries  are  dark 
smoky,  and  altogether  this  form  is  hardly  to  be  mistaken. 

All  the  other  species  are  more  or  less  strigate  in  their  type  of  macula- 
tion,  and  this  is  particulirly  tiue  of  barnesii,  perdita,  and  edolata,  in 
which  the  primaries  appear  blackish.  Barnesii  and  perdita  have  the 
primaries  evidently  trigonate,  though  with  a  long,  evenly  curved  outer 
margin  and  acute  apex.  Barnesii  is  paler  in  ground  color,  but  all  tlie 
transverse  maculation  has  disappeared,  while  of  the  ordinary  spots  the 
reniform  is  sometimes  traceable  as  a  smoky  lunule.  The  wing  as  a 
whole  seems  darker  inferiorly,  owing  to  a  prominent  black  shade,  which 
extends  through  the  submedian  interspace  from  base  to  anal  anole, 

Ferdita  has  the  primaries  more  uniformly  blackish,  but  both  the 


vol-  XXI. 

ell  marked 

rt,  stumpy, 
>rbicular,  a 
aud  a  more 

rkings,  and 
s,  powdery 

the  black 
ied  streak 
angle. 
i.  lines  and 
n  the  pre- 
I  are  more 
a/se  to  anal 
'in  and  the 
blie  prima- 
isemblance 

laries  less 
distinctly 
the  lower 
}  is  always 
red.  Din- 
cely  have 
)yar  noted 
the  points 
rise,  nor  if 
th  a  small 
)  as  to  the 

te  appear - 
les,  spots, 
3  are  dark 

3f  macula- 
edolata,  in 
I  have  the 
•ved  outer 
'Ut  all  the 

spots  the 
mng  as  a 
ide,  which 
an  yle. 

both  the 


N(i.1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUWAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


149 


ordinary  spots  are  traceable,  and  the  transverse  posterior  line  may  be 
made  out  as  a  somewhat  paler,  bisinuate  shade. 

Edolata  has  the  primaries  narrower  and  more  nearly  equal.    The ' 
transverse  posterior  line  is  easily  traceable  and  is  very  strongly  den- 
tate.   The  strigate  marking  is  fully  developed  here  and  besides  the 
black  line  in  the  submedian  interspace  there  is  another  through  and 
extending  outwardly  beyond  the  cell. 

E.rtricata  and  xylini/ormis  are  ashen  gray  species  in  which  the  stri- 
gate type  is  not  so  strongly  developed  as  to  obscure  everything  else, 
and  where  the  transverse  maculation  is  at  least  more  obvious. 

Extricata  is  somewhat  larger,  and  darker  bluish  gray.  The  trans- 
verse anterior  line  is  not  well  marked  in  most  specimens,  sometimes 
absent,  and  the  transverse  posterior  line  is  strongly  denticulate. 
There  is  a  distinct  tendency  to  an  angulated,  median  shade  line,  which, 
indeed,  is  sometimes  distinct  and  complete.  A  long  basal  dash,  a 
streak  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  opposite  anal  angle,  and 
a  black  streak  below  the  ordinary  spots  in  the  cell  emphasize  the 
streaky  appearance. 

Xyliniformin  is  a  painfully  variable  species;  not  because  it  can  be 
confounded  with  anything  else,  but  because,  with  a  few  specimens  from 
well-separated  localities,  it  allows  itself  to  be  so  prettily  divided  into 
two  series.  It  is  ash  gray  in  color,  sometimes  so  densely  black  pow- 
dered that  all  the  markings  are  obscured  and  sometimes  so  sparsely 
that  it  seems  much  lighter  in  ground  color,  and  all  the  maculation  is 
evident.  Large,  dark,  and  powdery  specimens  sometimes  resemble 
extricata,  but  always  diifer  by  the  absence  of  a  longitudinal  black  basal 
line.  The  dash  opposite  the  anal  angle  is  almost  always  distinct,  and 
usually  crosses  the  transverse  posterior  line,  though  it  rarely  forms  a 
well  defined  psi.  The  ordinary  spots  are  usually  distinct  and  always 
traceable. 

Oblinita  and  lanceolaria  agree  in  the  very  pale  gray  primaries,  which 
are  narrow,  long,  and  sublanceolate.  The  head  is  a  little  more  sunken 
than  usual,  and  there  is  a  distinct  tendency  to  a  short  tongue,  more 
marked  in  lanceolaria  than  in  its  ally. 

Oblinita,  is  rather  smaller  in  average  expanse,  much  more  i)owdery 
and  streaky  in  appearance,  with  the  median  lines  so  far  as  traceable 
very  strongly  dentate. 

Lanceolaria  is  much  more  evenly  cob  ired,  and  has  a  very  smooth 
bluish  tinge  over  the  white  ground.  The  transverse  posterior  line, 
which  is  the  only  one  obvious  in  my  specimens,  is  very  even,  hardly  con- 
trasting, and  accompanied  by  a  paler  shade  itiwardly. 

Insolitais  unknown  to  me,  but  is  associated  in  wing  form  with  oblinita 
by  Mr.  Grote.  It  is  also  given  the  more  sunken  head  and  other  char- 
acters of  the  series,  diftering  by  the  black  primaries. 

iliumb  and  forefinger  held  so  as  to  form  an  acute  angle,  the  finger  or 


150 


PROCEEDING!?  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


longer  process  up.  The  variation  is  in  the  proportion  of  these  parts  to 
each  other,  the  tendeiujy  in  our  species  bein{>:  to  the  disappearance  of 
the  thumb  and  to  tiie  formation  of  a  single,  long  curved  hook  similar 
to  that  in  tlie  first  or  (tmericana  group. 

In  the  stumpy-winged  series  sporata  is,  on  tlie  whole,  the  most  typ 
ical,  with  the  thumb  well  developed,  stout,  and  pointed  at  tip ;  the  finger 
of  moderate  length,  more  slender,  and  easily  curved  to  the  pointed  tip. 

Emaculata  strengthens  the  thumb  and  shortens  it  a  little,  while  the 
finger  is  much  lengthened,  becomes  much  stouter,  and  is  nearly  straiglit 
to  an  abruptly  pointed  tip.    Bistans  and  impressa  intensify  this  struc 
ture,  the  thumb  being  perhaps  a  little  longer  and  the  finger  a  little 
shorter. 

Noctivaga,  on  the  other  hand,  loses  the  thumb  almost  completely,  the 
finger  remaining  much  as  in  sperata. 

Of  the  strongly  strigate  species,  barneHii  is  like  itperata,  with  the 
thumb  greatly  strengthened,  but  the  proportions  not  much  changed  in 
other  respects.  Perdita  is  similar,  but  here  the  finger  is  also  strengtii- 
ened,  though  it  becomes  shorter.  In  edolata  the  thumb  is  much  reduced, 
forming,  indeed,  a  mere  beak  or  spur,  while  the  finger  is  very  long, 
slender,  and  curved.  This  type  is  also  found  in  all  the  other  species  of 
the  group,  the  tendency  to  lose  the  thumb  becoming  absolute  in  oblinUa, 
which  then  may  be  confused  with  the  group  americana  at  first  sight. 
Unfortunately,  I  have  had  no  male  of  hmceolata. 

Of  the  European  specimens  referable  to  this  group,  I  know  auricoma, 
rumicis,  eiiphorhiae,  myrica,  and  menyanthidis,  all  belonging  in  a  genenil 
way  to  the  stumpy-winged  form. 

Euphorbiae  in  sexual  structure  is  almost  identical  with  spcrata,  and 
the  species  resemble  each  other  very  closely. 

Myrica  bears  the  same  relation  to  euphorbiae  in  genital  structure  that 
noctivaga  does  to  sperata,  and  here  also  the  European  and  American 
species  are  very  close  structurally,  while  totally  difterent  in  superficial 
appearance.  Myrica  is  a  very  dark,  evenly  powdered,  ashen  gray,  on 
which  the  ordinary  markings  are  easily  traceable,  though  they  are  not 
prominent. 

Auricoma  and  rumicis  represent  the  form  found  in  impressa,  our 
species  stamling  almost  midway  between  the  two  h^uropean  forms  in 
structure  and  resembling  both  superficially. 

We  have  nothing  resembling  menyanthidis,  in  which  both  finger  and 
thumb  are  long,  slender,  and  curved,  the  thumb  distinctly  longer  and 
a  little  up  curved.  Here  we  have  a  very  distinct  tendency  to  the  alni 
type,  which  is  not  much  contradicted  in  superficial  appearance  if  we 
eliminate  the  peculiar  black  shading  of  the  latter  There  is  nothing  in 
the  Euroi)ean  species  known  to  me  which  resembles  our  narrow- winged 
species.  Abscondita,  of  which  I  have  only  a  single  specimen,  resembles 
euphorbiae  and  will  probably  have  similar  sexual  ci5aracter= 

Ligustri  has  sexual  structures  totally  unlike  anything  else  in  the 
genus  and  should  be  excluded  from  it  even  on  superficial  characters. 


)mpletely,  the 


low  aurtcoma, 
J  in  a  genenil 


NO.  1110. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


151 


Mejiacephala  is  also  unique  and  utterly  unlike  anything  represented 
III  the  American  fauna.    There  is  nothing  to  contradict  its  reference  to 
!  cioiiyctii,  however,  though  I  am  at  a  loss  as  to  how  the  structure  could 
have  been  derived  frouj  anything  known  to  me. 

ACRONYCTA    ILLITA,  new  species. 
I'liilt's  XI,  fig  12,  femalo  adult;   XVIII,  Hg.  22,  leg;  XXII,  fig.  1,  malo  genitalia.) 

( I  round  color  a  dirty  ashen  gray,  very  powdery.  Head  and  thorax 
w  itliout  distinct  markings.  Primaries  with  all  the  markings  obscured. 
I'yio^iil  line  geminate,  black  marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse 
iiiitorior  line  geminate,  smoky  or  blackish,  as  a  whole  oblique,  more  or 
less  outcurved  between  the  veins.  The  median  shade  line  is  marked 
by  an  oblique  dash  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  posterior  line  gem- 
iiiiite,  lunulate,  the  inner  line  hardly  defined;  the  outer  broken,  com- 
])(»sed  of  smoky  or  black  lunules,  the  intervening  space  a  little  paler. 
Subterminal  line  pale,  rather  vaguely  defined,  broken,  followed  by  a 
series  of  black  lunulate  marks.  There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal 
(lots,  before  which  the  terminal  space  is  a  little  paler.  A  few  black 
St  ales  indicate  a  basal,  longitudinal  line,  and  there  is  a  feebly  marked 
line  above  the  anal  angle,  extending  from  the  transverse  posterior  linei 
to  the  outer  margin.  The  ordinary  spots  are  very  obscure,  of  moderate 
si/e,  the  orbicular  a  little  oval,  centered  with  dusky;  the  reniform  large, 
uieoniplete,  more  or  less  kidney-shaped,  dusky,  with  a  very  pale  central 
crescent.  The  space  between  the  ordinary  spots  is  paler  than  the  rest 
of  the  wing.  Secondaries  soiled  whitish,  the  veins  a  little  dusky. 
Beneath  white  powdered,  with  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  spot,  but 
in  the  specimens  before  me  without  an  exterior  transverse  line. 

Expanse,  1.70  to  1.88  inches  (44  to  47  mm.). 

Habitat. — Denver;  Glen  wood  Springs,  Colorado,  July. 

Four  specimens,  not  m  the  best  of  condition,  are  at  hand.  Three  of 
them  are  males,  the  fourth  is  a  female,  with  one  pair  of  wings  only. 
The  species  looks,  at  first  sight,  like  a  very  dark  luteicoma  and  resem- 
bles that  species  most  nearly.  I  believe  it  to  be  distinct,  however,  and 
the  very  dark-powdered  primaries,  with  secondaries  in  which  there  is 
no  trace  of  yellow,  give  the  creature  a  very  distinctive  appearance. 
The  head  is  well  developed,  the  front  convex,  buo  hardly  bulging,  the 
l)alpi  closely  applied  to  the  front,  and  reaching  the  middle.  The  legs 
are  well  proportioned.  The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  has  the  femur 
rather  slender,  the  tibia  large  in  proportion,  the  epiphysis  inserted  at 
about  the  middle  and  scarcely  reaching  to  the  tip.  The  harpes  are 
moderate,  and  narrow  slightly  to  the  tip,  where  they  are  rather  evenly 
rounded.  The  clasper  is  slender  and  strongly  curved  toward  the  tip, 
the  inferior  process  very  short  and  blunt.  It  is  more  than  probable 
that  this  species  is  not  rare  in  its  range. 


\    i 


152 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


ACRONYCTA  LUTEICOMA  Grote  and  Robinson. 

(Plates  I,  fig.  5,  adult;  VI,  Ar.  16,  larva;  XV,  fig.  18,  head;  XVITI,  fig.  23,  leg; 

XXII,  flg.  2,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronyota  luleicoma  Ghotk  and  Kohinson,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soo.,1870,  III,  179 
pi.  II,  fig.  83.  '' 

Pharelra  luteicoma  Guote,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roem.  Mm.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3,  p.  7. 

Groniul  color  a  dirty,  powdery  asli  gray,  with  a  more  or  less  well 
marked  yellow  tiut.    The  collar  is  usually  a  little  dark  at  tip,  and  the 
patagiae  often  have  a  dusky  margin.    Primaries,  with  all  the  markings 
traceable,  though  not  prominent.    Basal  line  geminate,  black  or  black- 
ish, usually  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  wing.    Transverse  anterior 
line  geminate,  outwardly  oblique,  outcurved  between  the  veins.    The 
median  shade  when  best  marked  extends  obliquely  from  the  costa 
across  the  reniform,  then  makes  an  acute  angle,  and  extends  obliquely 
inward  to  the  middle  of  the  internal  margin.    Between  this  and  it« 
entire  absence  all  intergrading  forms  are  found.    Transverse  posterior 
line  geminate,  the  inner  line  incompletely  defined,  the  outer  smoky  or 
blackish,  lunulate,  the  included  space  whitish  and  ahso  lunulated.    As 
a  whole,  the  line  is  somewhat  S-shaped.    The  subterminal  line  consists 
of  a  series  of  more  or  less  connected  white  spots,  outwardly  margined 
by  blackish  lunules  or  dashes  which  do  not  reach  the  outer  margin. 
There  is  a  series  of  black  terminal  dots.    There  is  no  trace  of  a  basal 
black  line.    In  some  specimens  there  is  a  blackish  shading  just  below 
the  snbmedian  vein,  between  the  transverse  anterior  line  and  the 
median  shade.    The  ordinary  spots  are  of  good  size,  the  orbicular 
irregular,  round  or  oval,  defined  with  black  scales  and  with  a  dusky 
center,  the  reniform  large,  kidney-shaped,  outlined  by  black  scales  and 
shaded  with  dusky.    The  secondaries  vary  from  soiled  whitish  with  a 
yellowish  tinge  to  smoky  yellow,  those  of  the  female  being  as  a  whole 
the  darker.      Beneath  whitish  powdery,  sometimes  with   a  vaguely 
defined  outer  line  and  more  usually  with  a  discal  spot.    . 
Expan.se,  1.50  to  2  inches  (38  to  50  mm.). 

i/aiitof.— Canada,  southward  to  Georgia  and  Texas,  west  to  the  Cen- 
tral States.  Maine  in  June;  central  New  York  in  June;  District  of 
Columbia,  April  and  May;  central  Illinois  in  August;  Texas  in  Febru- 
ary; I  California. 

In  my  catalogue  I  have  also  recorded  the  species  from  Colorado,  and 
Portland,  Oregon.  It  is  more  than  likely  that  these  localities  refer  to 
the  preceding  species;  but  I  do  not  have  the  specimens  at  the  present 
time  to  refer  to.  Dr.  Dyar  records  the  larva  from  California,  but  points 
out  a  difference  which  may  really  indicate  a  good  species. 

This  is  the  largest  and  narrowest  winged  species  in  this  group,  which 
has  no  tendency  to  a  lanceolate  type.  The  primaries  are  subequal  and 
the  outer  margin  is  rouiidly  ol)lique,  leaving  the  apex  just  a  little 
acute.  Two  forms  are  distinguishable,  depending  upon  the  amount  of 
yellow  suffusion.    In  the  one"  case  the  secondaries  are  almost  white  in 


NO.  1140. 

tlie  male  i 
second  se 
tlie  femah 
bred  fron 
even  a  g 
iioticeabk 
of  the  tw< 
tliis  speei 
tlie  femur 
sliorter  ii 
which  it  e 
cies;  the 
inferior  pi 
ol'  the  coi 

TlIAXTl 

Stage  I. 
0.4  mm.  1 
vieal  shie^ 
of  diffuse, 
tliree  hair 
single-hail 

Stage  L 
white  line 
wiiite,  the 
sparse  on 

Stage  I 
reddish;  ^ 
rently  so  i 
white  in 
normal,  bl 
thick  and 

Stage  I 
with  whiti 
sal  row  of 
line  below 
and  white, 
and  two  s 
subdorsal 
Wiirt  II  or 

Stage  V 
ging  abov 
iis  before, 
bUick 
joint  12, 
become  st 
pies  at  thi 


;  a  s 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMKRICAX  NOCTUWAE—SMTTn  AND  PYAR. 


153 


the  male  and  have  only  a  slijflit  yellow  HutiuHion  in  the  female.  In  the 
second  series  the  males  are  as  dark  as  the  females  of  the  first,  while 
tlie  females  are  distinctly  darker.  Unfortunately  both  forms  have  been 
hied  from  the  same  lot  of  cateri)lllars,  so  that  this  does  not  point  to 
even  a  good  variety.  Th<'  ditferenee  indeed  is  not  {?reat,  and  is  not 
noticeable,  excejjt  with  a  good  series  of  specimens,  where  the  nnissing 
ot  the  two  forms  increases  the  apparent  diflf'erence.  In  head  structure 
tills  species  is  like  the  preceding,  but  the  legs  are  decidedly  stouter, 
tlie  femur  particularly  being  very  heavy,  while  the  tibia  is  stouter  and 
shorter  i^ii  proportion.  The  epiphysis  is  situated  nearer  to  the  tip, 
which  it  ea.^ily  reaches.  The  harpes  are  much  as  in  the  preceding  spe- 
cies; the  clasper  is  long,  moderately  slender,  not  much  curved;  the 
inferior  process  is  distinct,  acute,  and  somewhat  beak-like.  This  is  one 
of  the  common  species. 

LARVA. 
Thaxteu,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  Iti. 

Stage  I. — Head  blackish  testaceous,  whitish  above  the  mouth;  M'i«lth, 
0.4  mm.  Body  greenish,  with  black  warts  bearing  long,  stiff  hairs.  Cer- 
vical shield  and  anal  plate  blju^kish.  On  joints  5,  8-9,  and  12  a  series 
of  diffuse,  brown,  dorsal  patches.  Warts  without  8ubi)rimary  ones,- 
three  hairs  from  la  +  lb,  on  thorax,  and  from  1  on  abdomen ;  otherwise 
single-haired. 

tStafje  II. — Head  bilobed,  brown-black,  shining,  labrum  white,  and  a 
white  line  on  each  side  of  the  clypeus;  width,  0.<!  mm.  Body  greenish 
white,  the  warts  large,  black,  smaller  on  joint  11.  Hair  bristly,  black, 
sparse  on  joint  11,  some  overhanging  the  head. 

Stoffc  III. — Head  bilobed,  fiat  in  front,  black  and  shining;  mouth 
reddish ;  width,  0.9  mm.  Body  enlarged  dorsally  at  joint  12,  and  appa- 
rently so  at  joint  5,  as  this  part  is  held  highest.  Body  whitish,  almost 
white  in  ])lace8,  especially  subventrally  on  joints  10  and  12.  Warts 
normal,  black,  IV  very  small.  Hair  bristly,  black,  weak  on  joint  11, 
thick  and  tufted  dorsally  on  joint  5. 

Stage  IV. — Head  bilobed,  rounded,  shining  black,  clypeus  bordered 
with  white,  mouth  pale  brown;  width,  1.4  mm.  Body  black,  a  subdor- 
sal row  of  pale  yellow  spots,  forming  a  band  on  joints  10-12;  a  narrow 
line  below  it;  a  similar  band  subventrally.  Hair  thick,  bristly,  black 
and  white,  with  tufts  of  shorter  soft  hairs  from  warts  T  to  HI  on  joint  5, 
and  two  smaller  divergent  subdorsal  ones  on  joint  12.  A  narrow  white 
subdorsal  line.  In  another  example  there  were  also  white  tufts  froni 
wart  II  on  joint  4  and  warts  I  and  11  on  joint  6. 

Stage  V. — Head  high,  shining  black;  mouth  and  two  bauds,  conver- 
ging above,  on  each  side  of  the  clypeus,  white;  width,  2  to  2.2  mm.  Body 
as  before,  with  some  long  white  hairs,  the  tufts  on  joint  .5  brown  or 
black;  a  smaller  white  tuft  on  joint  6;  short  divergent  black  pencils  ou 
joint  12.  In  Californian  examples  the  subdorsal  and  subvcntral  bands 
become  strongly  shaded  with  red,  while  they  are  pale  in  Eastern  exam- 
ples at  this  stage. 


I»i 


154 


rnncEEDTNns  of  the  natwxal  museum. 


VOL.  XXI. 


stage  T/.— Ileiul  wiiirisli  beliitid,  in(»ttle<l  witli  brown  an«l  Hliade<l 
witli  black  in  a  dittuse  band  from  the  ocelli  npward  and  on  each  wide  of 
the  clypens;  mouth  parts  and  untler  side  of  head  larj;ely  bhuilt,  sliininjr; 
width,  .%■{  mm.  Mody  cylindrical,  taperint,^  "liKlitiy,  joint  12  a  httl(i 
oidaiffcd.  Wart  1  as  larye  as  the  others,  IV  minute.  Body  stiijroscly 
mottled  with  black  and  white,  the  black  pre<lominatinK  and  becotniiij,' 
continuous  c'cntrally  on  the  segments  ami  adjoininj;  the  narrow,  broken, 
yellow  dorsal  line.  Broad  sulxlorsal  and  Hubsti>,nnatal  lines,  the  foruMT 
brok<Mi  and  obsolete  anteriorly,  yeUowish  white,  pale  r«'d  in  the  middle. 
Warts  ])ale,  with  tieshy  tint.  Long  hairs,  pale,  slender;  those  from 
warts  1  and  II  shorter  and  more  spiny,  the  warts  nearly  in  line  trans 
versely;  a  few  louf;  black  hairs  at  the  extremities.  Thick  tufts  of 
plumed  hairs,  black  brown  from  warts  I  and  II  on  joint  5;  divergent 
black  pencils  from  the  closely  approximate  warts  I  and  II  on  joint  12; 
dense  shorter  white  tufts  from  I  and  II  on  joints  .{  and  4,  III  on  5,  I  t(. 
Ill  on  «,  a  few  hairs  from  III  on  9  or  9  and  10,  moderate  from  III  ou 
12,  a  few  hairs  from  wart  III  on  13. 

SUuir  17/.— Head  whitish  brown,  a  black  lino  at  the  edge  of  tlic 
clypeus  and  a  patch  before  the  eyes.  Body  marked  as  before,  but  the 
narrow  yellowish  dorsal  line  runs  through  a  series  of  velvety  brown 
patches;  the  i)aio  bands  may  be  yellow  or  red.  Warts  all  pale;  spiia 
cles  white  with  black  rims.  Wart  1  bears  some  stiff  bristles;  lon^ 
hairs  from  the  extremities;  lateral  hairs  soft,  barbuled,  mixed  with 
stiff  bristles.  Tufts  all  tine,  light  pinkish  brown,  like  the  color  of  new 
leather;  those  from  warts  I  and  II  on  joints  it  and  12  a  little  darker  in 
shade.  There  are  snnill  tufts  from  warts  III  on  joints  7  to  10.  Venter 
and  feet  pale.  In  another  example  the  white  and  black  tufts  persisted 
in  the  last  stage.  Another  larva  had  but  six  stages  with  the  following 
widths  of  head:  0.;ir>,  0.6,  1.0,  1.0,  3.0,  and  4.8  mm. 

Co6'»on.— Formed  between  leaves,  composed  entirely  of  silk,  firm. 

Pmjw.— Cylindrical,  the  posterior  fixed  ab(li,minal  segments  abruptly 
tapering;  posterior  margins  of  the  segments  with  smooth,  shining, 
slightly  elevated  rims.  All  coarsely  wrinkled,  the  abdominal  segments 
in  front  thickly  covered  with  large  (!onical  elevations;  cremaster 
tapering,  con(!olorous,  with  a  bunch  of  dense,  numerous,  stiff  bristles 
projecting  backward.    Color,  blackish  brown.    Length,  18  mm. 

Food  plants.— B\Yc\\,  apple,  walnut,  oak,  willow,  poplar,  elm,  choke 
cherry,  cherry,  linden,  ash. 

ACRONYCTA  SPERATA  Grote. 
(Plates  II,  fijr.  (5,  adult;  VHI,  figs.  31,  32,  larva;  XXII,  fig.  3,  male  genitalia.) 

Jcronyota  aperato  Guote,  Bull.  BiiflF.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873,  I,  p.  81,  pi.  n,  fig.  i. 

Arctomyscin  aperata  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  113. 

Pharetra  speraia  GaoTE,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3,  1896,  p.  7. 

Ground  color  a  dirty,  powdery  ash  gray.  Head  and  thorax  without 
definite  markings.  Primaries,  with  all  the  markings,  smoky  and  rather 
obscurely  defined.    Basal  line  geminate,  marked  on  the  costa  only. 


NO.  1U0. 

Transverf 
little  out* 
ill  most  o 
its  middU 
tiie  medin 
posterior 
paler;  th< 
little  sini 
liroken,  i 
shaded  w 
is  a  broke 
iue  no  sti 
rather  coi 
the  renifo 
tilled.  T: 
in  the  fe 
ries  some 

Expaii!' 

Hdliittd 
('olorado 
and  June 

In  my 
States,  M 
so  great  i 

The  3p 
niaries,  it 
spots  stai 
aries  of  tl 
of  the  her 
The  ante 
abru])tly 
rather  shi 
situated  5 
to  the  tip 

The  on 
scnted  in 
the  medic 
there  is  n 
rather  shi 
inferior  p 
rather  stt 
curved;  t 
little  cur) 


PaCKA! 

Stage  T 
of  clypeu 


you  XXI. 

nd  Nhuded 
iu;h  MMleof 
k,  sliiiiin^^ 
12  a  iittit' 

Ntri^OHely 

beconiiiif,' 
w,  broken, 
tlie  forincr 
liu  middle, 
hose  from 
lino  trans 
k  tuftH  of 

diverf>ent 
1  Joint  12; 

on  o,  I  t() 
oni  III  ou 

Ijje  of  tlio 
e,  but  the 
ety  brown 
lie;  8pira 
ties;  loiiij' 
ixed  wirli 
lor  of  new 

darker  in 
K  Venter 
1  l)ersisfe(l 

following 

c,  Ann. 
i  abruptly 
,  shining, 
iSegments 
creujaster 
flf  bristles 
m, 
Ini,  choke 


tnitcilia.) 
II,  fig.  1. 

6,  p.  7. 

X  without 
lid  rather 
»sta  only. 


N.i.  1U0. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMJTH  AND  DTAR. 


165 


Transverso  anterior  line  f;eminate,  sHjfhtly  ontcnrved  as  a  whole,  and  a 
little  oiitcurved  between  tho  veins.  The  iiiodian  shade  line  is  distinjt 
ill  most  of  the  speeimeiLS  and  almost  upright,  (rrossing  the  wing  near 
its  middle,  and  a  little  bent  outwardly  on  the  median  vein.  Beyond  it 
tln^  median  space  is  usually  darker  than  toward  the  base.  Transverse 
posterior  line  geminate,  the  inner  line  vague,  the  included  space  a  Mttle 
piiler;  the  outer  line  more  or  less  lunulated,  often  broken  entirely,  a 
little  sinuate,  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  outer  margin.  There  is  a 
i)iokon,  pale  subterininal  line,  beyond  which  the  terminal  apace  is 
sliaded  with  smoky  spots  which  do  not  reach  the  outer  margin.  There 
is  a  broken  terminal  line,  and  the  fringes  are  cut  with  smoky.  There 
are  no  streaks  or  dashes.  The  ordinary  spots  are  distimit,  darker,  and 
rather  contrasting.  The  orbicularis  smaller,  moderate,  black-ringed; 
the  reniform  is  large,  kidney-shaped,  incompletely  outlined,  but  dusky 
tilled.  The  secondaries  are  white  in  the  male;  outwanlly  a  little  soiled 
in  the  female.  Heneath  whitish,  more  or  less  powdered,  the  seconda- 
ries sometimes  with  a  discal  spot  and  traces  of  an  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.20  to  1.40  indies  (30  to  35  mm.). 

Ihibitat. — Canada  to  District  of  Columbia;  west  to  Illinois;  Missouri; 
(Colorado  (?) ;  Massachusetts  in  May  and  June;  central  New  York,  May 
and  June;  Illinois  in  May. 

In  my  catalogue  I  have  recorded  the  species  from  the  Northern 
States,  May  to  August;  but  the  specimens  now  before  me  do  not  show 
so  great  a  range. 

The  species  is  quite  easily  recognizable  by  the  pale,  dirty  gray  x>ri- 
niaries,  in  which  all  the  markings  are  obscure,  and  only  the  ordinary 
spots  stand  out  in  dusky  relief,  contrasting  with  the  clear  white  second- 
aries of  the  male,  which  are  only  a  little  soiled  in  the  female.  The  front 
of  the  head  is  liat,  the  palpi  reaching  scarcely  to  the  middle  of  the  front. 
The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  has  the  femur  rather  dilated  at  middle, 
abruptly  narrowed  to  the  tip.  The  tibia  is  stout  and  proportionately 
rather  short,  while  the  tarsi  are  long  and  slender.  The  epiphysis  is 
situated  at  the  middle  of  the  tibia  or  a  little  above,  and  does  not  extend 
to  the  tip. 

The  only  variation  that  occurs  in  the  species,  so  far  as  it  is  repre- 
sented in  tlio  specimens  before  me,  is  that  sometimes  the  wing  beyond 
tiie  median  shade  is  darker  than  it  is  toward  the  base,  and  sometimes 
there  is  no  apparent  difference.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are  broad  and 
ratlier  short,  a  little  acutely  rounded  at  the  tip.  The  clasper  has  the 
interior  process  almost  as  long  as  the  superior.  The  superior  ])rocess  is 
rather  stout,  reaching  nearly  to  the  tip  of  the  harpes,  and  only  a  little 
curved;  the  inferior  process  is  almost  as  long,  acute  at  the  tip,  and  a 
little  curved. 

LARVA. 

Packard,  Fifth  Eept.  U.  S.  Coram.,  1890,  p.  628  (Apaida  sp,). 
Stage  VII. — Head  slightly  bilobed,  shining  red  brown,  the  sidepieces 
of  clypeus  yellowish;  width,  2.8  mm.    Body  slightly  enlarged  at  joint 


i 


156 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


:4 


J: 


VOL.  IXI 

12,  wnrt  IV  HmuII.  PinkiHh  or  orefttny  brown,  more  or  leRR  mottird 
with  blarkish  Hhades,  eMpocially  in  a  broken  dorHa!  band,  m«t<mentarily 
fnicato,  betwiH'u  wartH  11  and  III  and  aronnd  the  spiracles.  A  rwl 
HiibstiKmatal  band,  .sonuUimoK  Hcuniely  deJlno.!  IVoni  tlni  general  reddi,sli 
color.  Hairs  bristly,  lijjlit  red,  brighter  on  joint  5;  a  few  lonj;  ones  nt 
the  extremities,  and  tnfts  of  short,  Hne,  feathery  whitish  liairs  ftorn 
warts  I  to  III,  on  Joints  0  to  12,  more  or  less  abnn(bint.  Another 
example  was  heavily  shaded  with  black,  the  hair  still  red,  the  rod  sub- 
stigmatiil  line  and  a  series  of  subdorsal  patches  retaining  the  usual 
color.     Head  brown  black. 

C'ocooM.—Spun  between  leaves  ])artly  bitten  up  into  little  patches, 
elli|»tical,  thin,  single,  composed  of  pale  silk. 

P„pa.—lhivk  brown,  a  little  blackish  dorsally;  fixed  abdominal  seg- 
ments  tapering;  segments  coarsely  pointed,  granular  above;  quite 
smooth  in  a  narrow  posterior  rim.    Thorax  and  cases  wrinkly.    Ore- 
master  rather  long,  narrow,  conic,  smooth,  terminating  in  a  dense 
round  tuft  of  bristles.  ' 

FoodplantH. — Poplar,  alder. 

ACRONYCTA  NOCTIVAGA  Grote. 

(I'luteH  I,  (Ig.  II,  mlult;  VIII,  (Irh.  27,  28,  larva;  XVIII,  flK.21,  leg;  XXII,  flg.  G, 

male  Kciiitaliu.) 

Aironycta  noctiraaa  Ouote,  Proo.  Kut.  Soc.  Phila.,  1864,  II,  p.  137,  pi.  ix,  fiir  3  — 

Bkthunk,  Can.  Knt.,  1869,  I,  p.  71. 
Apatela  noetivaga  Packard,  Forest  Insects,  1«!K),  p.  460. 

Pharetia  noclivaga  Ghotk,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roeni.  Mua.,  Ilildesh.,  No.  3,  1896,  p.  7, 
Aoronycia  lon,ja  Walker,  Cut.  Brit.  Mus.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  60.— (jrotk  and 

Robinson,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  1868,  II,  p.  77,  pr.  syn.-BuTLKu,  Eut. 

Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  36,  pr.  syn. 

Ground  color  white  or  nearly  so,  overlaid  by  black  scales,  and  mot- 
tled so  as  to  give  the  insect  a  somewhat  marbled  appearance.    Head 
irregularly  mottled  with  black,  usually  with  a  distinct  line  across  the 
front.    Collar  with  the  upper  half  black.    Thorax  with  patagiae  black 
marked,  and  the  disk  strongly  black  powdered.    The  wings  have  the 
ordinary  markings  fiiirly  evident,  but  confused  by  the  irregular  black 
suttusion.    The  basal  line  is  geminate  and  black,  included  space  white. 
Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  black,  outwardly  oblique,  strongly 
outcurved  between  the  veins,  the  included  space  white.    The  entire 
basal  space  is  bhick  powdered,  but  below  the  middle  it  is  entirely  suf 
fused  by  blackish- scales,  so  that  there  seems  a  contrast  between  the 
upper  and  lower  part.     The  median  shade  line  is  diffuse,  starting 
obliquely  from  the  costa  across  the  reniform,  and  below  this  running 
parallel  to  the  transverse  posterior  line.    The  transverse  posterior  line 
is  geminate,  black,  the  inner  line  lunulate,  the  outer  merged  into  the 
black  subterminal  space,  the  included  space  white,  evenly  sinuate,  with 
two  Htrnng  outward  teeta  on  veins  3  and  4.    The  subterminal  line  is 
white,  broken,  defined  by  the  black  subterminal  space  and  by  a  series 


M<>.  1140. 


▼Oi.IXI 

lew  mottlod 
i»^K">e»tarily 
ilea.  A  rod 
lerul  reddish 
own  oiien  at 
I  hairs  ftom 
t.  Another 
the  rod  Hub. 

g   tllU    UHllill 

tie  patches, 

lominal  seg- 
bove;  quite 
inkly.  Onv 
ill  u  dense, 


H<.  1140.        NOSTM  AMEMCAN  NOCTUlDAE-SillTn  AND  DYAR. 


157 


XXII,  flg.  6, 
•1.  IX,  flg.  3.— 

,  1«96,  p.  7. 
— (JuoTK  and 

JUTLKH,    Eut. 

),  and  inol- 
ice.    Head 
across  the 
igiae  black 
8  have  tlio 
alar  blacli 
)ace  white, 
e,  strongly 
The  entire 
itirely  suf 
>tween  thc- 
3,  startinj- 
is  running 
iterior  line 
d  into  the 
uate,  with 
nai  line  is 
)y  a  series 


(if  intersimcial  black  Mpotw  in  the  terminal  space.  There  Is  a  series  of 
black  terminal  s|)ors,  preceded  by  a  white  terminal  line,  the  fringes 
being  cut  with  black.  The  ordinary  spots  are  diHtlnttt,  darker  tlian 
Die  rest  of  the  wing.  The  orbieular  is  small  or  mmlerate  in  size,  round, 
iilack  ringed,  and  usually  with  a  dark  center,  which,  as  a  rule,  fills  the 
entire  space.  The  reniform  is  large,  indefinitely  outline*!,  kidney  shaped, 
and  tilled  with  black.  Beyond  the  transverse  anterior  line  a  black 
pattdi  extends  to  the  median  shade  Just  above  the  submedian  vein. 
Just  above  the  anal  angle  a  black  patch  extends  from  the  transverse 
posterior  line  to  the  outer  margin.  Hecondaries  smoky,  paler  in  the 
male,  more  yellowish  in  the  female,  with  u  slight  brassy  reflection. 
ISeneath  yellowish,  powdery,  with  a  more  or  less  broken  outer  line  and 
discal  spot. 

lOxpanse,  1.32  to  1.50  inches  (33  to  37  mm.). 

Habitat. — (Janada,  .Inn  to  August;  Massachusetts  and  New  York, 
May  and  .lune;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  in  May;  central 
Illinois,  July  17;  New  Mexico;  Portland,  Oregon,  April  and  May; 
Colorado. 

The  species  is  widely  distributed  and  probably  ocijurs  over  nearly  the 
entire  United  States.  A  specimen  before  me,  not  in  the  best  condi- 
tion, from  New  Mexico,  indicates  that  possibly  there  may  be  a  similar 
representative  species  from  that  region.  It  is  easy  to  recognize  this 
insect  by  the  very  strong  contrast  between  the  white  ground  c(dor  and 
the  black  lines  and  blotches,  which  give  it  a  striking  appearance.  There 
is  little  variation  except  in  the  extent  of  the  black  blotching.  The 
front  of  the  head  is  slightly  convex,  the  head  itself  a  little  retracted; 
the  palpi  distinct  and  reaching  to  about  the  middle  of  the  front.  The 
anterior  leg  of  the  male  has  the  femur  well  developed,  rather  evenly 
enlarged  toward  the  base;  the  tibia  stout,  with  the  epiphysis  short, 
inserted  below  the  middle  and  reaching  to  the  tip.  The  harpes  are 
moderate, obliquely  rounded  at  tip;  the  clasper,  arising  from  an  oblique 
ridge,  is  single,  pointed  at  the  tip,  and  a  little  curved.  There  is  a  very 
slight  indication  of  an  inferior  process,  but  practically  we  have  a  single 
curved  hook. 

LARVA. 

Thaxteb,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  15.— Packakd,  Fifth  Kept.  U.  S.  Ent.  Comni., 
1890,  p.  460. 

Stage  I. — "Head  brown;  body  rather  stout,  not  tapering,  greenish 
white;  dorsal  portion  of  joints  2, 5, 8, 9,  and  12  red,  the  rest  more  or  less 
tinged  with  red,  sparsely  clothed  with  long  blackish  hairs."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  II. — "  Head  dirty  red,  greenish  anteriorily ;  body  dirty  green- 
ish; segments  distinct;  dorsal  patches  dull  reddish  on  superior  portion, 
the  other  segments,  except  10  and  11,  suffused  with  red,  somewhat 
thickly  covered  with  tufts  of  stout  black  hairs."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  III. — "Head  dark  blackish;  joint  12  ciiiiirgcd;  much  darker 
than  before,  the  red  color  becoming  dark  wine  color,  somewhat  thickly 


158 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


J  II 


J    J 
\ 


i- 

I 


mottled  and  suffused  over  the  dorsal  portion  of  all  the  segments  except 
10  and  11.    Sublateral  and  ventral  portion  light  green,  except  on  aeg 
meiits  2  and  4,  wiiich  are  tinged  with  red.    A  whitish  lateral  line. 
Warts  black,  hairs  stout,  black;  those  on  joint  11  shorter  than  the 
others."    (Thaxter.) 

iStage  I T.— "  Head  blackish,  with  a  yellow  V  shaped  mark;  body  dull 
black  above,  yellowish  beneath ;  a  yellow  lateral  (subventral)  line.  The 
yellowish  dorsal  (subdorsal)  patches  on  joint  11  on  which  the  hairs  are 
short.    Joints  3-5  and  12  hunched  up."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  r.— "Black  above,  deeper  anteriorily.  A  distinct  yellow  band 
beginning  on  joint  5,  running. |ust  below  the  stigmata,  which  are  white, 
contrasting.  Feet  yellow,  prolegs  black;  dorsal  patches  on  joint  12 
brighter;  otherwise  as  before."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  F/.— Subventral  "band  orange  colored;  a  broken  yellowish 
stripe  on  the  base  of  legs;  two  (sub)  dorsal  orange  spots  on  joint  II 
and  sometimes  a  pair  on  joint  10."    (Thaxter.) 

Stage  7JI.— Head  slightly  bilobed,  shining  browu-black,  sutures  of 
clypeus,  labrum,  and  antennae  whitish;  width,  3.3  nun.  Body  dull 
black,  obscurely  shaded  and  mottled.  A  broad  obscure,  diffuse,  red 
substigmatal  band  (V)  and  a  faint  spot  on  joint  11  in  front  of  wart  1. 
Warts  large,  hair  bristly  and  bla(!kish  from  warts  I  to  111,  softer  froni 
IV  to  VI ;  wart  IV  very  small;  tufts  of  tine  featliery  hairs  from  warts  I 
to  III  on  joints  5  to  10  and  12,  dark  gray,  in  some  examples  so  few  as 
to  be  hardly  noticeable. 

Cocoon.—"  Between  leaves."    (Thaxter.) 

Food  plants.— FoTplAv;  also  various  low  plants. 

ACRONYCTA  EMACULATA,  new  species. 

(Plates  XIII,  fiy.  2,  male  adult;  XXII,  fig.  <»,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  a  bluish  ash  gray,  which  is  almost  entirely  overlaid  by 
smoky  scales,  particularly  in  the  female.     The  head  and  thorax  are 
strongly  powdered  with  smoky  and  black,  without  forming  distiiKt 
markings.     Primaries  with  all  the  markings  traceable,  but  hardly 
prominent.    Basal  line  geminate,  black.    Transverse  anterior  line  gem 
inate,  the  outer  line  black,  the  inner  smoky,  almost  upright,  as  a  whole 
a  little  outcurved  between  the  veins.     Median  shade  almost  upright,  a 
little  oblique  from  the  costa  through  the  reniform,  and  then  close  to  the 
transverse  posterior  line  to  the  inner  margin.    Tlie  transverse  posterior 
line  is  geminate;  the  inner  line  smoky,  the  outer  black  and  a  little  den 
tate  on  the  veins,  included  space  of  the  palest  ground  color.    As  a 
whole  the  line  is  rather  squarely  bent  over  the  cell,  and   strongly 
incurved  below.    Beyond  this  curve  is  a  dusky  shading,  and  the  sub 
terminal  space  as  a  whole  is  a  little  darker  than  the  rest  of  the  mug. 
Subterminal  line  whitish,  broken,  irregularly  followed  by  bla(;k  nuirk.s 
...  !!,si  ..!i,^.i,4>„^v,o.     aUcic  13  i*  acnus  ui  turiuiuai  black  marks,  and  the 
fringes  are  cut  with  dusky  beyond  them.    There  is  a  somewhat  inde 


VOL.  XXI. 

iients  except 
X'ept  ou  Sep 
lateral  line. 
:er  than  tlie 

k;  body  (lull 
1)  line.  The 
the  hairs  are 

yellow  band 
!h  are  white, 
ou  Joint  12 

m  yellowish 
I  on  joint  1 1 

I,  sutnres  of 
Body  dull 
ditt'use,  red 
t  of  wart  I. 
softer  from 
ioin  warts  1 
es  so  few  as 


HO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAB. 


159 


a.) 

overlaid  by 
thorax  are 
ug  distinct 
but  hardly 
orlinegeiM 
,  as  a  whole 
t  upright,  a 
close  to  the 
se  posterior 
ii  little  den 
)loi\    As  a 
d   strongly 
id  the  sub 
f  the  wing. 
la(!k  marks 
ks,  and  the 
swhat  iude- 


fined  basal  black  streak,  below  which  the  space  is  blackish.  An 
oblique  black  mark  extends  from  the  transverse  anterior  line  to  the 
median  shade  Just  above  vein  1.  The  ordinary  spots  are  not  well 
marked,  though  visible.  The  orbicular  is  round,  moderate  in  size, 
ringed  with  black  scales,  and  with  a  smoky  center.  The  reniform  is 
liirge,  kidney-shaped,  smoky.  The  secondaries  are  soiled  whitish  in 
tlie  male,  smoky  in  the  female. 

Expanse,  1.32  to  1.40  inches  (33  to  35  mm.). 

Habitat. — Calgary,  Canada;  Easton,  Washington. 

I  have  only  two  specimens  of  this  species.  The  male,  a  very  good 
specimen  from  Calgary,  received  from  Mr.  Dod;  the  feu:?ile,  evidently 
an  electric-light  capture,  because  one  secondary  is  scorched,  taken  by 
^Ir.  Koebeleand  belonging  to  thelJ.  8.  National  Museum,  and  these  are 
the  types.  The  female  is  very  much  darker  than  the  male  and  the 
markings  are  hardly  relieved.  The  male  might  pass  as  a  very  dark 
iiiipressa,  but  the  female  shows  more  resemblance  to  sperata.  In  fact, 
the  male  itself  would  bo  more  readily  considered  a  variety  of  sperata 
than  of  impressa,  though  when  the  markings  are  closely  compared  the 
resemblance  is  to  Mw^re-vsa.  In  the  male  characters  ^^'is  resemblance 
is  intensified,  because  there  is  practically  no  dilfereuce  in  the  genitalia, 
nor,  indeed,  in  the  leg  structure.  Nevertheless,  I  believe  this  to  be  a 
good  species  from  the  characters  above  given. 

ACRONYCTA  IMPRESSA  Walker. 

(Plates  I,  fig.  12,  adult;  VIII,  figs.  33, 34,  larva;  XIII,  figs.  4, 5,  male  aud  female  adult; 
XIV,  fig.  9,  thorax;  XVIIl,  fig.  19,  leg;  XXII,  figs,  10, 11,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronycta  impressa  Walkek,  Cat.  Brit.  Mus.,  Met.,  1H56,  IX,  p.  61.— Gkote,  111. 

Essay,  1882,  p.  38  =  6rMmo«a  Grote.— Butleu,  Ent.  Amor.,  1887,  III,  p.  35,  an 

sp.  dist.  brumoaa  Gudn^e. 
Pharetra  impreasa  Grote,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Roem.  Mus.,  Hildesb.,  No.  3, 1896,  p.  7. 
Acronycta  fuHciata  Walkeh,  Cat.  Brit.  Mas.    Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  62.— Gkote,  111. 

Essay,  1882,  p.  39=6rHmo8a  Grote.— Butleu,  Ent.  Amer.,  1887,  III,  p.  35  = 

impresaa. 
Acronycta  brumoaa  Grote,  in  lists  and  coll. — Speyeh,  Stett.  Ent.  Zeit.,  1875, 

XXXVI,  p.  109.— Butler,  Knt.  Amor.,  1887,  III,  ]}.'Sry—impream. 
ApateJa  brumoaa  t  Packard,  Forest  Insects,  1890,  p.  169. 
Acronycta  verrillii  (tROTE  and  Robinson,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  1870,  III,  p.  178,  pi. 

II,  tig.  82.— MoKUisoN,  Can.  Ent.,  1875,  VII,  p.  79—innotata;  Ann.  Lye.  Nat. 

Hist.,  N.  Y.,  1875,  XI,  p.  92=6r«»io»a;  Psyche,  1875, 1,  p.  i2— brumoaa. 

Ground  color  a  somewhat  dirty  ashen  gray,  more  or  less  black  pow- 
dered. Head  with  a  dusky  line  on  the  front,  and  usually  another  ou 
the  vertex.  Collar  tipped  with  black  or  smoky,  although  this  is  incon- 
stant. Pata^iiae  more  or  less  black  margined,  and  the  disk  also  irregu- 
larly powdered.  The  primaries  have  the  ordinary  markings  distinct. 
Basal  line  geminate,  black;  transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  smoky 
or  blackish,  more  or  less  interrupted,  outcurved  in  the  interspaces,  as 
a  whole  a  very  little  oblique.    The  median  line  is  more  or  less  obscured 


160 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  TEE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI, 


'    I 


^1 

i  w 

i 
I 
j 


i 


when  best  marked,  a  little  oblique  from  the  costa,  darkeniuj:?  the  reiii- 
fonn  and  below  it  running  rather  close  to  and  parallel  with  tlie  trans- 
verse posterior  line.  Transverse  posterior  line  geminate,  the  inner  line 
smoky  and  rarely  complete,  the  outer  line  black,  irregular,  more  strongly 
dentate  on  veins  3  and  4.  As  a  whole  it  is  somewhat  S-shaped,  There 
is  an  outward  tooth  in  the  submedian  interspace  in  most  of  the  speci- 
mens. Subterminal  line  interrupted,  irregular,  pale,  marked  by  black 
scales  in  the  interspaces.  There  is  a  series  of  terminal  spots,  beyond 
which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black.  There  is  a  more  or  less  evident 
black  streak,  which  is  generally  interrupted  at  the  base,  and  below  this 
the  basal  space  is  darkened  by  black  powderings.  A  more  or  less 
obvious  smoky  shading  extends  above  vein  one  to  the  median  line, 
though  the  tendency  in  this  species  is  to  lose  its  shading.  The  inward 
curve  of  the  transverse  i)osterior  line  above  the  anal  angle  is  followed 
by  a  dusky  shading  xvhich  usually  extends  only  to  the  subterminal  lino, 
but  sometimes  reaches  the  outer  margin.  As  a  whole  the  subterminal 
space  is  somewhat  smoky  filled.  The  ordinary  spots  are  distinct;  the 
orbicular  small,  round,  black  ringed,  with  a  central  dusky  dot;  the  reni- 
form  large,  kidney-shaped,  somewliat  incompletely  outlined  and  with  a 
smoky  center.  Secondaries  yellowish  white  in  the  male,  more  smoky 
in  the  female.  Beneath  whitish,  more  or  less  powdery,  in  the  female 
with  a  distinctly  smoky  ting«.  Discal  spot  obvious  on  the  secondaries, 
less  distinct  and  sometimes  wanting  on  the  primaries;  rarely  with  a 
traceable  exterior  line,  except  on  the  secondaries. 

Exi>anse,  1.20  to  1.50  inches  (30  to  37  mm.). 

Habitat— \J luted  States,  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  Canada, 
May  to  August;  central  New  York,  July  and  August;  Minnesota  in 
June;  central  Illinois  in  July;  New  Jersey,  July  17;  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  in  May;  Glen  wood  Springs,  Colorado,  in  August. 

The  synonymy  of  this  species  as  above  given  is,  I  believe,  correct. 
Except  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Grote's  species  I  have  not  seen  the  type; 
but  Mr.  Hurler  has  definitely  referred  impressa  and  fasciata  as  being 
the  same,  while  Mr.  Grote  has  referred  fasciata  as  the  species  identified 
by  him  as  hrmnosa.  The  discussion  concerning  this  species  will  be 
found  under  the  next  heading. 


"^' 


LARVA. 

LiNTXKi!,  Twenty-sixth  Ifept.  N.  Y.  State  Mus.,  1874,  p.  159  (oft/t/n<a).— Coquil- 
i.KTT,  Piipilio,  1881, 1,  p.  56  (6r«mo8«). —DIMMOCK,  Psyche  ,1885,  IV,  p.  274,— 
Tackauu,  Fifth  Rept.  U.  S.  Ent.  Coram.,  1890,  p.  169. 

Stage.  Fff.— Head  sliining  black,  without  marks;  width,  2.8  mm. 
Body  velvety  black,  a  broad  diffuse,  faint  reddish  substigmatal  stripe 
(V  and  VJ).  Warts  pale,  sometimes  whitish  on  the  central  segments, 
hair  short,  in  small  bunches  from  the  warts,  dorsal  space  appeariiii> 
black  from  the  absence  of  hair.  On  joints  3  to  5  and  12-13  the  hairs 
are  somewhat  s])iny  and  light  reddish  brown;  elsewhere  soft  and  pale 
yellowish.    A  few  long  ones  at  the  extremities;  wart  IV  very  small. 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTVIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAR. 


161 


ingthe  reiii- 
bb  the  trans- 
be  inner  line 
lore  strongly 
ped.  There 
at"  the  speci- 
:ed  by  black 
)ots,  beyond 
less  evident 
id  below  this 
Dore  or  less 
nediau  line, 
The  inward 
}  is  followed 
irminal  lino, 
subterminal 
listinct;  the 
^t;  thereni- 
i  and  with  a 
noie  smoky 
the  female 
Jecondaries, 
irely  with  a 


18,  Canada, 
innesota  in 
i'^ashington, 
,  in  August. 
>ve,  correct, 
n  the  type; 
ta  as  being 
ss  identified 
jies  will  be 


(O).— COQUIL- 

,  IV,  p.  274.- 

h,  2.8  mm. 
aatal  stripe 
I  segments, 
appearing 
3  the  hairs 
ft  and  pale 
ry  small. 


Cocoon. — Spun  tightly  among  leaves;  composed  of  silk. 

Fupa. — Brown-black,  cases  heavily  wrinkled,  abdominal  segments 
ronghened  with  irregular  confluent  granules,  not  points,  the  rounded 
posterior  segmental  bands  smooth.  Anal  segments  rapidly  tapering, 
(remaster  wide,  iiattened,  concave  below  and  with  a  dense  brush  of 
little  straight  spines  over  the  end. 

Food  plants. — Willow,  plum,  hazel,  currant,  blackberry. 

ACRONYCTA   DISTANS  Grote. 

(I'lates  XIII,  flgs.  6, 7,  male  and  female  adults ;  XVIII,  fig.  20,  leg;  XXII,  figs.  12,  13, 

male  genitalia.) 

Apatela  disiana  Guotb,  Can.  Ent.,  1879,  XI,  p.  58. 

A  detailed  description  of  this  species  would  be  in  all  essential  points 
a  reproduction  of  what  was  written  under  the  head  of  inipressa,  the 
two  look  so  much  alike.  IHstans,  as  compared  with  impre.ssa,  is,  on  the 
whole,  a  trifle  smaller.  The  wings,  especially  in  the  male,  are  narrower 
and  the  apices  of  the  primaries  are  distinctlj^  more  pointed.  The  latter 
is  particularly  true  of  the  female,  but  is  also  traceable  in  the  male. 
The  markings,  on  the  whole,  are  less  distinct,  more  suli'used  by  black 
scales,  and  there  is  a  dusky  or  blackish  longitudinal  shading,  which' 
extends  from  the  base  below  the  middle  of  the  wing  to  the  outer  margin 
without  a  distinct  break.  This  is  perhaps  the  most  obvious  character 
of  the  species;  but  it  is  a  somewhat  variable  one,  and  occasionally  a 
break  occurs  just  inside  of  the  transverse  posterior  line,  and  then  the 
resemblance  to  hnprensa  becomes  very  close.  On  the  whole  the  species 
has  the  secondaries  a  little  paler  than  in  the  previous  case,  but  other- 
wise the  two  resemble  each  other  perfectly.  1  doubt  whether  I  would 
have  considered  this  a  distinct  species  had  not  Dr.  Dyar  called  my 
attention  to  the  fact  that  there  seemed  to  be  a  larval  ditt'ereuce.  When 
the  forms  are  separated  in  series  a  difference  may  be  marked;  but  a 
single  specimen  may  be  troublesome  to  place  in  some  cases.  The 
species  is  perhaps  better  defined  in  the  female  than  in  the  male.  In 
tlie  sexual  characters  there  is  very  little  difference;  in  both  cases  the 
liarpes  are  rather  evenly  rounded  at  the  tip  and  the  clasper  is  very  well 
developed  and  large.  The  inferior  process  is  long,  somewhat  eycavated 
on  the  inner  side,  with  a  rounded  tip;  the  superior  process  is  stout, 
long,  nearly  equal  to  the  tip,  where  it  ends  in  an  abrupt,  short  point. 
In  inipressa  this  upper  process  is  nearly  straight  and  somewhat  irregu- 
lar; in  distans  it  is  more  even  and  distinctly  curved,  though  not 
strongly  so.  The  differences,  however,  are  comparative,  and  I  would 
not  be  inclined  to  give  them  much  weight.  There  is  more  difference  in 
the  anterior  legs  of  the  male.  These  in  distans  are  distinctly  longer 
than  in  intpressa,  not  only  comparatively  but  absolutely,  though  (Mxtans 
is  the  smaller  species.  The  tibia  in  impressa  is  distinctly  stouter  and 
the  epiphysis  is  inserted  nearer  to  the  base,  besides  being  also  broader. 
I  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any  other  characters.  1  have  not  seen 
Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 11 


' 


H 


162 


PUOCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XSI. 


Mr.  Grote's  type;  but  his  description  evidently  refers  to  a  specimen  in 
which  the  longitudinal  shading  through  the  inferior  portion  of  the  wing 
is  well  marked.  So  far  as  distribution  is  concerned  and  the  dates  of 
appearance,  these  seem  to  be  the  same  in  the  two  species. 

These  are  i)erliai)H  the  most  closely  allied  of  any  of  the  species  in  the 
genus,  and  they  are  mixed  in  collections  generally.  It  is  very  probable 
that  all  previous  authors  have  confused  tlie  two:  but  Mr.  Grote'.s 
description,  being  defined,  must  be  applied  to  the  form  agreeing  with  it. 

LARVA. 

Saunoeus,  IiiH.  Inj.  Fruits,  1881,  ]>.  313  (hrumoaa);  Kept.  Ent.  Soc.  Ont.,  1883, 
p.  12  (hriimom).— Packard,  Fifth  Kopt.  U.  S.  Eut.  Conim.,  1890,  p.  lys 
(species  43,  birch). 

Stage  IT.— Head  shining  black;  width,  2  mm.  Body  black,  pale  in 
the  incisures;  a  substigmatal  yellowish  band,  diffuse  below.  Hairs 
rather  stiff  throughout,  a  few  long  ones  at  the  extremities;  all  pale  yel- 
lowish except  some  black  ones  from  warts  I  and  II  on  joints  5  and  12. 

Stage  ITJ.— Head  shining  black,  no  marks;  width,  2.5  mm.  Body 
black,  paler  in  the  incisures,  with  tlie  substigmatal  band  as  before. 
Hair  short,  in  small  bunches  from  the  warts,  dorsal  space  appearing 
somewhat  broadly  black  from  the  absence  of  hairs.  Hair  pale  yellowy 
soft,  a  few  bristl;^  ones  from  tubercle  1  and  some  black  ones  on  joints  5 
and  12. 

Cocoow.— Spun  tightly  among  leaves;  composed  of  silk. 

Pupa. — Jjike  th'dt  ot  A.  hnpiesm  exdctiy. 

Food  plants. — Poi>lar,  willow,  birch,  alder. 


NO.  1140. 


ACRONYCTA  BARNESII,  new  species. 

(Plates  XIII,  liy.  10,  male  adult;  XXII,  lig.  15,  male  genitalia.) 

Ground  color  dark  ashen-gray,  very  strongly  powdered  with  black. 
Head  without  distinct  markings,  though  there  is  a  tendency  to  become 
black  on  the  vertex.  The  patagiae  are  black  margined,  and  the  disc 
also  tends  to  become  more  or  less  black  lined.  The  i)riinaries  have  all 
the  ordinary  markings  obscured  and  tend  to  become  strigate.  The 
transverse  anterior  lino  may  be  traced,  in  some  specimens,  across  the 
entire  wing.  It  is  black,  geminate,  the  outer  portion  being  the  more 
evident.  Asa  rule  it  consists  of  a  pair  of  oblique  streaks  from  the 
costa  toward  the  middle  of  the  wing.  The  median  shade  is  marked  in 
the  same  way,  as  a  single  streak  from  the  costa  toward  the  faintly 
indicated  reniform.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  barely  indicated 
in  some  specimens;  but  usually  wanting  altogether.  Tliere  is  no  sub- 
terminal  line;  but  a  vague  paler  shading  may  be  traced,  parallel  with 
the  outer  margins,  in  some  specimens.  There  is  a  series  of  black  ter- 
minal spots,  beyond  which  the  IVinges  are  prominently  cut  with  black, 
and  from  these  spots  a  series  of  rays  extend  inward;  that  above  vein  5 


VOL.  XXI. 

)ecimen  in 
f  the  wing 
B  dates  of 

Dies  in  tho 
y  probable 
r.  Grote's 
Qg  witli  it. 


Ont.,  1883, 
1890,  p.  41)8 

\i,  pale  ill 
w.  Hairs 
1  pale  yel- 
5  and  12. 
in.  Body 
as  before, 
ippearinj^ 
le  yellow, 
•u  joints  5 


m  U40.        NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


163 


) 

th  b]a(!k. 

0  become 

1  the  disc 
?  have  all 
ite.  The 
/Cross  the 
the  more 
from  the 
larked  in 
le  faintly 
indicated 
s  no  sub- 
illel  with 
)lack  ter- 
th  black, 
ve  veiu  5 


being  the  longest  and  most  prominent;  the  others  lessening  toward  the 
apex.  There  is  a  broad  black  streak,  extending  from  the  base  to  beyond 
the  middle  of  the  wing  in  the  snbmedian  interspace.  There  is  another, 
which  ahuost  lills  the  space  between  veins  1  and  2,  and  extends  from 
the  median  veiu  to  the  outer  margin.  The  other  interspaces  are  less 
jiromiueutly  black  filled;  but  sometimes  the  powdering  obscures  these 
rays,  and  the  whole  wing  gets  an  indeflnite  mottled  appearance.  The 
ordinary  spots  are  wanting  or  very  faintly  indicated;  the  orbicular  is 
not  pjesent  in  any  specimen  before  me;  the  reniform  is  small,  somewhat 
liinulate,  and  iucompletely  outlined  in  all  but  two  of  the  nine  examples 
under  examination.  Secondaries  white  in  the  male,  smoky  in  the 
female.  In  both  cases  with  a  darker  terminal  line.  Beneath  white  in 
the  male,  smoky  in  the  female;  powdery,  with  a  more  or  less  marked 
discal  spot  and  sometimes  a  trace  of  an  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.84  inches  (.'>7  to  40  mm.). 

Habitat. — Colorado:  Denver;  Garfield  County,  7,000  feet;  Glen  wood 
Springs,  June  and  July. 

All  the  specimens  before  me  were  collected  by  Mr.  David  Bruce  or 
by  Dr.  William  Barnes.  There  are  six  males  and  three  females,  the 
latter  being  the  larger  throughout.  Types  are  in  the  U.  S.  National' 
Museum,  Butgers  College,  and  with  Dr.  Barnes  and  Mr.  E.  L.  Graef. 
The  only  variation  that  occurs  is  in  the  amount  of  the  black  powder- 
ing through  the  wings;  otherwise  it  is  very  constant.  The  species  has 
been  confused  with  edolata,  than  which  it  has  broader,  more  trigonate 
wings  and  a  paler  ground  color.  The  head  is  moderate  in  size,  the 
front  just  a  little  bulging;  the  palpi  well  developed  and  reaching  to  the 
middle.  The  legs  are  rather  long  in  the  male,  with  the  femur  evenly 
developed,  not  particularly  stout  in  the  middle;  the  tibia  is  propor- 
tionate, with  the  epiphysis  inserted  above  the  middle  and  not  reach- 
ing to  the  tip.  The  harpes  are  rather  short  and  broad,  quite  evenly 
rounded  at  the  tip.  The  clasper  has  the  inferior  process  well  devel- 
oped, rather  long  and  somewhat  beak-like;  the  upper  process  of  mod- 
erate length,  more  slender  and  well  curved;  it  is  not  more  than  one 
and  one-half  times  as  long  as  the  inferior  process. 

ACRONYCTA  PERDITA  Grote. 

(Plates  III,  fig.  6,  adult;  XVIII,  fig.  16,  leg;  XXII,  tig.  16,  male  genitalia.) 

Acronydaperdita  Grotk,  Can.  Ent.,  1874,  VI,  p.  154. 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  bluish  gray,  the  wings  strongly  suffused 
with  black.  Head  blackish  on  the  vertex.  Collar,  centrally  black,  the 
sides  being  gray.  The  patagiae  are  black  m.argined,  while  the  disc  has 
a  black  line  on  eaiih  side  and  sometimes  also  in  the  center.  The  pri- 
maries, although  thoroughly  suffused  with  black,  still  admit  of  tracing 
all  the  ordinary  markings.  The  basal  line  is  very  feebly  indicated  by 
a  pair  of  black  dots  on  the  costa.  The  transverse  anterior  line  is  gemi- 
nate, strongly  bent  outwardly  between  the  veins;  as  a  whole  nearly 


lj»<s 


'I 


164 


J'BOCEEDIXGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vol. mi. 


NO.  1140. 


upright.  It  is  not  complete  in  any  of  the  specimens  before  me,  but  is 
always  obvious  on  the  costa  at  any  rate.  The  median  shade  is  trace 
able  from  the  costa  through  the  reniform  as  a  .somewhat  diffuse  black 
Bhade.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  usually  well  marked,  strongly 
dentate  on  the  veins,  particularly  ou  3  and  4;  it  is  geminate,  the  outer 
line  lunulate,  the  inner  more  even  and  broken;  it  is  rarely  complete. 
The  siibtermiiial  line  is  broken,  pale,  consisting  of  rather  a  series  of 
shades  than  a  real  line.  The  terminal  space  is  marked  by  a  series  of 
black  spots,  separated  by  the  ])aler  veins.  There  is  a  series  of  black 
terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with  black.  The  ordi- 
nary spots  are  traceable.  The  orbicular  is  round  or  nearly  so,  small 
defined  by  black  scales.  The  reniform  is  large,  indefinite,  dusky.  As 
a  whole  the  lower  portion  of  the  wing  is  darker  than  the  upper  because 
of  a  black  shade  which  extends  from  the  base  through  the  median  space 
below  vein  li.  It  may  or  may  not  be  cut  by  the  transverse  posterior 
line,  and  beyond  it  this  shade  reaches  to  the  outer  margin,  extending 
upward  to  vein  3.  A  somewhat  triangular  patch  extends  from  the 
transverse  posterior  lino  to  the  outer  margin  opposite  the  cell.  Above 
this  the  space  between  the  transverse  posterior  and  the  subterminal 
line  is  black.  The  veins  are  generally  a  little  paler,  so  that  the  wings 
have  a  rayed  appearance.  Secondaries  white  in  the  male,  with  a  discal 
spot  and  an  outer,  smoky  margin.  In  the  female  they  are  smoky. 
Beneath,  white  in  the  male,  smoky  in  the  female;  both  wings  with  a 
discal  spot,  but  with  only  a  faint  trace  of  an  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.(58  inches  (35  to  42  mm.). 

Habitat.— \iierrii  Nevada,  California,  in  June;  Easton,  Washington. 

This  species  varies  little  in  the  series  before  me,  except  in  size.  The 
females  are  as  a  ^yhole  larger  than  the  males,  but  the  ditterence  is  not 
great.  There  is  some  ditterence  in  the  amount  of  black  in  the  wi«gs, 
and  this  determines  the  distinctness  with  which  the  markings  appear. 
This  type  seems  to  be  an  intensification  of  the  characters  found  in 
barncsii,  but  with  the  transverse  lines  much  better  marked.  The  legs 
of  the  male  are  longer ;  the  femur  is  graceful,  the  thickest  portion  toward 
the  base;  the  tibia  is  proportionately  longer,  with  the  epiphysis  set  at 
the  middle  and  not  reaching  to  the  tip.  The  harpes  of  the  male  are 
evenly  rounded  at  the  tip.  The  clasper  has  the  upper  and  lower  proc- 
ess of  nearly  equal  length;  both  being  curved,  but  the  lower  is  acute 
at  tip  and  somewhat  beak-like,  while  the  upper  is  cylindrical,  blunt  at 
tip  and  rather  more  claw-like.  Tiie  species  is  a  distinct  one  in  all  its 
chai'acters. 

ACRONYCTA    EDOLATA    Grote. 

(Plates  IV,  n>r.  1,  adult;  XVTTT,  (ig.  17,  leg;  XXII,  lig.  17,  Miale  genitalia.) 

Apatela  edolala  Gkote,  Papilio.  1881,  I,  p.  15;j. 

Mastiphanes  eilolaia  Guote,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  4!»,  pi.  i,  fig.  4. 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  bluish  gray,  strongly  overlaid  by  black 
scales.    Head  blackish  above;  collar  blackish  in  the  center,  leaving 


VOL.  XZI, 

lie,  but  is 
i  is  trace 
use  black 
,  strongly 
the  outer 
complete. 
,  series  of 
I  series  of 
i  of  black 
The  ordi- 
80,  small, 
isky.  Ah 
r  because 
iiau  space 
posterior 
extending 
from  the 
.  Above 
btermiual 
:he  wings 
ti  a  discal 
e  smoky. 
p;s  with  a 


shington. 

ize.    The 

ice  is  not 

le  wjjigs, 

■i  appear. 

found  in 

The  legs 

»n  toward 

sis  set  at 

male  are 

^ver  proc- 

[•  is  acute 

blunt  at 

in  all  its 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUWAE— SMITH  AND  D TAR. 


165 


alia.) 


by  black 
,  leaving 


the  sides  gray;  patagisie  black  margined,  the  disk  with  black  lines  at 
the  side,  and  a  smoky  line  through  the  middle.  The  primaries  have  all 
the  markings  obscured  by  the  black  streakings,  but  somewhat  traceable. 
The  basal  line  consists  of  an  oblique  black  streak  across  the  costal 
space.  The  medmn  shade  is  scarcely  more.  The  transverse  posterior 
line  may  be  traced  across  the  wing  as  a  series  of  strongly  dentate 
whitish  points,  followed  by  black,  defining  spots.  There  is  nothing 
that  can  be  called  a  subtcrminal  line;  but  there  is  a  pale  shading, 
beyond  which  a  series  of  black  rays  extend  through  the  terminal 
space.  Some  of  these  rays  cross  the  shading  and  extend  inward  to  the 
transverse  posterior  line.  Between  veins  1  and  2,  and  2  and  3,  this  line 
IS  actually  crossed,  and  connection  is  made  with  the  dusky  shading 
which  extends  to  the  base  below  the  median  vein.  The  veins  them- 
selves are  a  little  white  marked.  Secondaries  whit*^  in  the  male,  a  little 
dusky  outwardly;  hardly  darker  in  the  female,  but  with  a  broader 
dusky  margin.  Beneath  powdery  whit;  ,  a  little  darker  in  the  female, 
with  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  spot;  but  no  outer  line  in  any  of  the 
specimens  before  me. 

Expanse,  1.72  to  1.88  inches  (43  to  47  mm.). 

Habitat. — Arizona. 

This  is  a  narrow  winged  species  in  which  the  primaries  tend  a  little 
to  become  lanceolate.  The  ordinary  markings  are  all  much  obscured, 
the  dentate  transverse  posterior  line  being  the  only  thing  that  is  at  all 
traceable,  and  this  is  very  characteristic.  The  ordinary  spots  are  not 
traceable  in  any  specimen  before  me.  The  Colorado  locality  given  in 
my  catalogue  is  probably  an  error,  due  to  the  fact  that  specimens  of 
harnesU  were  confused  with  this  species.  The  head  is  of  good  size;  the 
front  a  little  convex,  but  not  bulging;  the  palpi  reach  to  the  middle  of 
the  front.  The  anterior  legs  of  the  male  are  fairly  well  developed;  the 
tibia  rather  stout  and  long  in  proportion  to  the  femur,  with  the  epi- 
physis inserted  a  little  below  the  middle  and  reaching  to  the  tip.  The 
harpes  of  the  male  are  moderate,  rather  evenly  rounded  at  the  tip. 
The  clasper  is  stout,  the  inferior  projection  short  and  beak  like,  the 
upper  process  forming  a  long  curved  hook,  which  gradually  narrows  to 
the  pointed  tip.  The  upper  process  is  more  than  twice  as  long  as  the 
lower. 

ACRONYCTA   EXTRICATA   Grote. 

(Plates  XIII,  fig.  9,  female  adult;  XVIII,  lig.  15,  leg;  XXII,  fig.  18,  male  genitalia.) 

Apaida  extricata  Guotk,  Bull.  U.  S,  Geol.  Surv.,  1882,  VI,  p.  575. 
Mastiphanea  cxUicata  Guote,  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  113. 

Ground  color  dark  bluish  gray,  powdery,  with  more  or  less  evident 
smoky  shadings.  Head  with  vertex  smoky;  collar  smoky  or  rusty 
browu  above.  The  patagiae  with  narrow  smoky  margins  and  the  disk 
with  a  smoky  line  on  each  side.  Primaries  with  the  transverse  mark- 
ings obscured  in  most  specimens.  Basal  line  inarkod  by  an  oblique 
black  dash  on  the  costa.    Transverse  anterior  line  fragmentary,  in 


M' 


lefi 


PlinCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


most  cases  only  a  strongly   dentate  brown    shading;    but  in  some 
instances  a  part  of  the  line  is  marked  witii  black.    The  median  shade  is 
nsnally  pretty  well  marked  and  smoky  brown.     It  is  outwardly  oblicpie 
from  the  costa  through  the  roniform,  then  bends  inwardly  and  runs 
nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  inner  margin.    The  transverse  posterior  line 
is  strongly  dentate,  obscurely  geminate,  the  outer  portion  of  the  line 
bhick,  the  intervening  space  very  pale,  while  the  inner  defining  line  is 
smoky  il"  at  all  traceable.     Tliere  is  an  obvious  subtermiiuil  line. 
Tiiere  is  a  series  of  terminal  dashes  between  the  veins,  which  extencl 
inwardly  to  the  transverse  posterior  line  between  veins  4  and  5,  and  5 
and  (5.    Other  dashes  extend  inward  above  and  below  vein  1.  '  There 
is  a  black  basal  streak,  which  extends  well  to  the  middle  of  the  wing 
and  nearly  meets  one  of  the  inward  dashes  below  vein  2.    The  ordi- 
nary spots  are  obscure,  imperfectly  outlined;  the  orbi<jular  a  little  elon- 
gate;   the  reniform  small,   incompletely  defined,   outwardly  smoky. 
Jieyond  the  median  shade  the  space  between  the  veins  is  more  or  less 
marked   by  short  black  dashes.    Secondaries   white,  a  little  soiled 
toward  the  apex  in  the  female.    Beneath  white,  ])owdery,  usually  with 
out  trace  of  any  outer  line  or  discal  spot,  although  in  some  specimens 
the  spot  at  least  is  indicated. 
Expanse,  1.7H  to  1.80  inches  (43  to  45  mm.). 
Habitat.— Texas,  in  March,  May,  and  August. 

This  species  is  rather  w^ell  marked  and  not  easily  mistaken  for  any- 
thing else.  The  wing  seems  strigate,  an  appearance  which  is  enhanced 
by  the  narrow  primaries  an<l  the  strongly  dentate  transverse  posterior 
line.  In  most  of  the  specimens  the  median  line  is  distinct  and  angu- 
lated,  and  in  some  examples  it  is  very  prominent.  Occasionally  it^'is 
traceable  only  with  some  ditticulty,  and  in  that  case  the  species  may  be 
separated  from  xyliniformiH,  which  it  resembles,  by  its  larger  size, 
more  strigate  appearance,  by  the  strongly  dentate  transverse  posterior 
line,  and  by  the  basal  black  streak.  The  legs  are  long  and  stout  the 
anterior  femur  of  the  male  dilated  toward  base;  the  tibia  unusually 
stout,  with  the  epiphysis  attached  above  the  middle  and  reaching  to 
the  tip.  The  tarsi  are  complete,  short,  and  stout.  The  harpes  of  the 
male  are  a  little  obliciue  at  tip,  quite  evenly  rounded.  The  lower, 
beak-like  process  of  the  clasper  is  very  stout  and  rather  short;  the 
upper,  hook  like  process  is  quite  long,  stout,  and  moderately  curved. 
The  species  has  not  been  found  except  in  Texas  thus  far,  and  does  not 
seem  to  be  a  common  form  there. 


NO.  1140. 


.SB 


ACRONYCTA  XYLINIFORMIS  Guen6e, 

(Plates  IV,  figH.  5, 10, 12,  15,  adults;  VIII,  fig.  35,  larva  ;  XV,  figs.  U,  20,  head;  XVIII, 
fig.  14,  leg ;  XXII,  fig.  19,  mule  genitiiliu. ) 

Acromjcta  xylinoidea  Guenke,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct.,  1852,  I,  p,  56.— Grote    Bull. 

Huff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873, 1,  p.  81,  note  11. 
Acromjcta  xyliniformia  Gueni^;e,  Spec.  Geu.,  Noct.,  1852,  III,  p.  400.— V/alker,  Cat. 

Brit.  Mas.,  Het.,  1856,  IX,  p.  60. 


NO.1140.         XntlTir  AMKiaCAS  NOCTVl DAK— SMITH  AND  DYAIi. 


167 


Apaleln  ryliniformii  Dimmock,  Psyche,  1885,  IV,  p.  274. 

ArctomyaciH  fuHnifonnh  Ohotk,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Rooin.  Miih.,  Ilildosh.,  No.  3,  IHiXi,  p.  7. 

Actonijcla  longa  Oiiknkk,  Hjjec.  Gen.,  Noi't.,  1852,1,  p.  .")l. — HirrmiNK,  Cun.  Eut., 

ISO!),  1,  J).  71.— Hi  Ti.KK,  Kilt.  Amor.,  1887,  III,  p.  3t>  —  6r ««»()««  (ineu(^<'. 
Apatelii  Hinniiifra  \  Grotk,  in  liHts  iiiul  coll.— Tifaxtek,  Psycho,  1878,  II,  p.  121. — 

Giio  1 K,  Hull.  U.  8.  Geol.  Snrv.,  1HM3,  VI,  p.  572.— Dimmock,  Psyclio,  1885,  IV,  p. 

274.  liiivii. 
Apalvla  palUdicomn  Guotk,  Hull.  II.  S.  (ieol.  Kurv.,  1878,  IV,  p.  1(59. 
riiarcira  pallidicomn  (iKotk,  Mitth.  a.  d.  Uoein.  Mus.,  Hildesh.,  No.  3, 1896,  p.  7. 

(Iround  color  Jislien  gray,  more  or  leas  black  powdered.  Head  and 
thorax  without  detinite  markings,  though  the  patagiae  are  sometimes 
a  little  dusky.  Primaries  with  the  markings  fairly  well  defined.  Basal 
line  obscurely  marked  on  the  costa,  and  in  most  cases  wanting.  Trans- 
verse anterior  line  geminate,  a  little  oblique,  strongly  outcurved  between 
the  veins,  smoky,  rarely  entirely  complete,  and  more  frequently  marked 
only  by  an  oblique  costal  dash,  everything  below  that  being  barely  indi- 
cated or  entirely  wanting.  The  median  shade  is  marked  by  an  oblique 
streak  from  tlie  costa  to  the  reniform,  and  is  sonietlmes  traceable  as  a 
smoky  shading  obliquely  inward  from  that  point;  as  a  rule,  however, 
it  is  not  traceable.  The  transverse  posterior  line  is  obsoletely  gemi- 
nate, the  inner  line  very  faintly  marked,  the  intervening  space  whitish, 
the  outer  line  black,  lunulate,  and  a  little  dentate  on  the  veins.  Beyond 
this  the  subterminal  space  is  somewhat  darker,  and  occasionally  relieves 
a  vague  shading  that  may  be  looked  upon  as  a  pale  subterminal  line. 
There  is  a  series  of  black  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are  cut  with 
black,  and  from  which  smoky  or  blackish  shadings  sometimes  extend 
inwardly.  There  is  no  black  longitudinal  line  or  streak  at  base,  though 
sometimes  a  few  black  scales  indicate  such  a  mark.  There  is  a  distinct 
dagger  mark  crossing  the  transverse  posterior  line  in  the  submedian 
interspace.  The  ordinary  spots  are  fairly  well  defined;  the  orbicular 
small,  round,  with  a  dusky  center  or  entirely  dusky;  reniform  large, 
Incompletely  outlined,  smoky  or  blackish,  kidney  shaped.  Secondaries 
white  in  the  male,  more  or  less  smoky  in  the  female.  Beneath  white 
or  smoky,  powdery,  with  a  more  or  less  obvious  discal  spot,  which  is 
often  wanting,  and  sometimes  with  a  trace  of  an  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.80  inches  (35  to  45  mm.). 

Habitat. — Canada  to  Florida,  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains;  Florida 
in  March;  Texas  in  Marcli  and  August;  central  New  York  in  July; 
central  Illinois  in  July;  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  May  and 
July. 

This  is  an  exceedingly  variable  species  in  size,  ground  color,  and  in 
the  distinctness  of  the  markings.  It  has  received  several  names, 
Guence  describing  it  twice,  for  I  have  no  doubt,  from  the  description, 
that  lonfja  was  indicated  for  a  form  of  this  species.  Mr.  Grote  has 
named  one  form  pallidicoma,  and  has  identified  another  as  npinigera  in 
collections.  All  these  forms  are  i  eferable  to  one  variable  type,  which  is 
rather  easily  identified  by  the  fact  that  there  is  no  distinct  basal  streak. 
This  associates  it  with  the  narrow-winged  forms  like  ohlinita  and  Ian- 


I: 


1G8 


PliOCEKUISCa  OF  TIIK  NATIONAL  MCSKIM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


eeolaria,  neither  of  wliicli  it  resenihlo.s  eiiongh  to  be  miMtakon.  It 
Heeiiicd  at  first  as  if  two  species  Tnipfht  bo  seitarated  out;  Imt  I  was 
absolutely  uiuible  to  find  any  cliaiacters  that  were  at  all  perniaruMit. 
The  head  is  distinct;  tlie  front  a  little  convex,  bnr  hardly  bulffiuK;  the 
palpi  distinct,  scarcely  reaching  the  middle  of  tljc  front.  The  anterior 
le{j:8  of  the  male  are  rather  slender  nml  graeefid,  the  femur  oidy  a  little 
thickened,  the  tibia  well  doveh^pecJ,  tlie  epiphysis  inserted  above  the 
middle  and  reaching  nearly  to  tlu  Lip.  The  tiii'si  are  rather  l(»ng.  The 
harpes  of  the  imUe  narrow  rather  abriii)tly.  The  clasper  is  distinct, 
the  inferior  process  very  short  and  abruptly  pointed,  the  upper  long! 
rather  stout,  usually  obtuse  at  tip,  and  a  little  curved. 

LARVA. 

Rii.KY,  Fifth  l{ei)t.  Jns.  Mo.,  187:i  (.n//iHf/«»mM).— Tha.xteu,  I'sycbe,  1878,  II 
1>.  121  {Hiiinii/rrn);  Papilii.,  1SK3,  III,  )..  17.  "  ' 

Staf/e  //.—Head  bilobed,  shining  whitish,  with  brown  shades  below 
the  apices  of  the  lobes;  width,  0.5  mm.  Body  whitish,  heavily  shaded 
with  dark  brown  iu  a  subdorsal  (1)  and  lateral  (III)  bands  whi(!h  Join 
on  Joints  5,  8-9,  and  12.  Warts  large,  coueolorous,  Avith  large  bunches 
of  stiff  l)rownish  hairs.     Skin  smooth. 

Stctf/c  ///—Head  as  before;  width,  O.G  mm.  IJody  more  heavily 
baiuled  with  brown,  which  is  darker  aud  blackish,  leaving  contrastiiij; 
pale  areas  around  wart  11  on  Joints  (J,  7, 10,  and  11 ;  venter  i)a]e.  Hair 
abundant,  stiff,  blackish. 

Staye  I  V.—Utiiid  blackish,  a  paler  spot  below  the  apex  of  each  lobe 
aud  on  the  side  pieces  of  the  clypeus,  and  over  eye;  width,  1  mm. 
Uody  as  before,  the  dark  marks  more  spreading  and  mottled.  In  pale 
examples  the  body  is  gray,  finely  blackish  peppered,  on  a  whitish 
grouml,  the  white  spaces  of  previous  stage  nearly  obscured.  Hair 
bristly,  short,  blackish,  aiul  wintish,  a  few  long  ones  at  the  extremities. 

Stage  F.— Head  brownish,  with  the  side  pieces  of  clypeus,  a  patch 
below  apex  of  each  lobe,  and  an  irregular  patch  over"  the  eye  pale; 
width,  1.4  nun.  IJody  gray,  mettled,  the  warts  black;  fiiint  paler 
marks  around  wart  II  on  the  central  segments.  Hair  black  and  white, 
stiff. 

Stage  F/.— Head  brownish  black,  ])aler  on  the  sides  aud  below  the 
tops  of  the  lobes,  side  pieces  of  clypeus  whitish,  forming  an  inverted 
V  mark;  width,  2.3  mm  to  2.5  mm.  Body  gray,  mottled,  a  darker  dor- 
sal shade;  a  series  of  whitish  patches  over  warts  1  and  II  on  joints  <! 
to  11 .  Warts  dark,  except  iu  the  pale  patches ;  hair  bristly,  with  sharp 
points,  except  the  few  long  ones  at  the  ends  of  the  body  and  a  few  fine 
short  hairs  from  warts  1  to  III  on  Joints  U  to  12,  which  are  smooth,  not 
barbuled. 

Stage  F//.— Head  black,  with  pale  V  nuirk  and  labrura,  or  dull  red- 
dish shaded  with,  brown,  the  V  luark  yellowish;  widtii,  ;J.5  mm.  Body 
vanes  from  blackish  to  gray,  finely  strigose  and  peppered,  a  dorsal 


VOL.  XXI 

takon.  It 
;  but  I  was 
pennaiioiit. 
i\fi\uu;  the 
he.  anterior 
mly  u  little 
above  tlic 
li.iiff.  The 
ivS  diHtiiict, 
pper  loii}>-, 


NO.1140.        NOJiTU  AMKUTCAN  NOCTVJUAE— SMITH  AND  DYJlt. 


169 


ho,  IHI!*,   II, 

ides  below 
ily  shaded 
whidi  join 
fe  bunches 

ro  heavily 
ontrastin;; 
ale.    Hair 

each  lobe 
Ml,  1  mm. 
.  In  i>ak' 
a  whitish 
ed.  IJair 
Ltreniities. 
s,  a  patch 

eye  pale; 
lint  paler 
md  white, 

below  the 
inverted 
irker  dor- 
n  joints  (i 
dth  sharj) 
a  few  fine 
looth,  not 

dull  red- 
n.  Body 
,  a  dorsal 


darker  shade,  faintly  broken  into  seprmcntary  ftircnto  patclies.  A 
hroml  diffuse,  red  substiy:matal  band,  most  distin(!t  in  I  lie  paler  form. 
Warts  nearly  in  line  transversely,  IV  nearly  obsolete,  yellowish,  a  more 
or  less  distinct  yellowish  patch  covering  warts  I  and  II  on  joints  (J  to 
IL'.  Hairs  stitt"  and  spiny,  sharp  i)oiiited,  with  a  few  lonj-,  slender, 
black  om  1  at  the  extremities.  The  spines  are  pale  with  black  tip,  a 
lew  black,  and,  in  the  darker  forms,  those  on  joints  3  to  5  are  deep  rc<l 
ill  the  base.  From  warts  1  to  III  on  joints  0  to  10  are  snniU  tufts  of 
dense,  fluffy,  barbuled,  conspicuous,  white  hairs,  but  variable,  in  some 
examples  being  so  ktvf  as  to  be  not  noticeable  at  once. 

I'upn.—Vostevuiv  abdonunal  segments,  rapidly  tapering;  coarsely 
loii^-hencd  with  irregular  dark  points,  the  posterior  margins  of  the 
segnientsi  smooth,  raised,  hoop  like.  Thorax  finely  wrinkled,  but  com- 
paratively smooth,  ^remaster  a  slight  tapering  prolongation,  shal- 
lowly  furcate,  granular  at  the  apex,  with  two  short,  stout,  thick,  conical 
spurs,  one  above  the  other,  at  the  apex  of  each  furcation.  Length, 
17  mm. 

Food  plantH. — Bir(!h,  blackberry. 

ACRONYCTA  OBLINITA  Smith  and  Abbot. 

(Plates  IV,  figs.  6,  13,  14,  adnltH;  VIII,  (1^8.  29,  30,  larva;  XIV,  figs.  4,  10,  body; 
X VIII,  fig.  13,  Ifg;  XXII,  fig.  L'O,  male  genitalia.) 

I'halama  ohUnita  Smith  and  Aiihot,  Ins.  Oa.,  1797,  II,  p.  1H7,  pi.  xciv. 
Acroiij/iid  oblinitd  Giikn/;h,  Spec.  Oen.,  Noct.,  \m2, 1,  p.  49.— Walkkh,  Cat.  Hiil. 

Mns.,  Met.,  1856,  IX,  p.  58. 
Eulonche  obHiiita  Grote,  Papilio,  1883,111,  p.  113;  List  N.  A.  Euptorotidao,  etc., 

1897,  p.  15. 
Apatela  ohlhiita  Fkrnald,  Stand.  Nat.  Hist.,  1885,  II,  p.  452.— Packaiid,  Forest 

InMocts,  1890,  p.  567,  fig,  191. 
Acronyvta  aaU<-i8  Hakkiu,  Ent.  Corresp.,  1869,  p.  314,  fig.  44. 

(hound  color  a  very  pale  gray,  almost  white.  Head  and  thorax  with- 
out perceptible  markings;  but  always  more  or  less  black  powdered. 
Trimaries  powdery,  with  the  markings  all  traceable;  but  tending  to 
become  strigate.  Basal  line  getninate,  powdery,  marked  on  the  costa 
only.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  very  poorly  defined,  with 
Aery  strong  outcurves  in  the  interspaces.  The  median  line  is  marked 
by  an  oblique  shade  from  the  costa  to  the  center  of  the  reniform.  The 
tiansverse  posterior  lin  is  Innulate,  strongly  dentate  on  the  veins, 
blackish,  with  whitish  included  shades,  so  that  in  some  specimens  the 
line  seems  to  be  white  or  nearly  so,  when  the  black  luuules  are  not  so 
well  marked.  There  is  a  series  of  prominent  black  terminal  dots.  In 
some,  specimens  there  is  a  feebly  marked  black  basal  streak;  but  this 
is  never  comi)lete,  and  is  more  usually  wanting.  There  are  no  dagger 
marks.  The  ordinary  spots  are  very  obscure  and  scarcely  defined. 
The  orbicular  is  oval,  ringed  with  black  scales  and  of  the  ground  color. 
The  reniform  is  moderate  in  size,  dusky,  incompletely  outlined,  but 
iiiaiked  with  black  spots.  Secondaries  white,  in  both  sexes  without 
markings  except  a  broken  terminal  line.    Beneath  white,  powdery, 


it 


-a 


^.J-f 


170 


vnnrF.KDiNna  of  the  y.tTiny.ii  museum. 


VOt.  XXI, 


f 


iiHUiiily  witliout  tracci  of  otitor  lino  or  discal  H\Kii.  Thero  in  a  tendency, 
lio\v(>v(>r,  to  iidisctil  Hpot  in  tbu  H(M-orulai-iuH,  and  to  a  Iohm  nuirkt^d  extunt 
on  tlio  priinarit's  uIho. 

I'iXpaiiHO,  !.<»()  to  2  incthes  (40  to  r»<)  mm.). 

Ilahitnt. — Nova  Scotia  to  Florida,  west  to  the  llocky  MountuinH; 
May  to  AufruHt,  in  tlio  more  nortlMMii  ran^o;  March  to  •luly,  Wasliint,' 
ton,  Dintrictof  Columbia;  Riley  County,  KansaM,  in  May. 

ThiH  iw  perhaps  the  most  (tommon  of  the  species  of  this  genus,  and 
the  early  stages  have  been  described  again  and  again  in  economic  pul»- 
lications.  Thero  is  very  little  variation.  The  si)ecimons  may  bo  some 
what  paler  or  somewhat  darker,  depending  upon  the  amount  of  black 
])owdering;  but  it  can  be  scarcely  ndstaken  for  anything  else,  becauwti 
of  the  narrow,  sublanceolate  prinmries  with  the  strij^ate  nuiculati(ui.s, 
and  the  pure  white  secondaries.  The  head  is  retracted,  small  in  size, 
while  tho  tongue  is  decidedly  v.eaker  than  usual  in  the  genus.  The 
l)alpi  are  short,  and  scarcely  reach  to  the  front  in  most  of  the  speci- 
mens. The  anterior  leg  of  the  male  is  pi'oportionately  developed.  The 
tibia  is  stout,  long  in  proportion  to  the  femur,  with  the  epiphysis  small 
and  attached  above  the  middle.  The  harpes  of  the  male  aro  rather 
broad,  but  taper  to  a  rather  abrupt  point.  The  cla8i)er  consists  of  a 
single,  long  corneous  process,  pointed  at  the  tip  and  a  little  curved. 
Tho  lower  part  of  the  process  is  very  feebly  marked,  and  is  indeed 
practically  absent.  The  structure  thus  resembles  tliat  of  the  ameri- 
cana  group,  but  for  the  fact  that  this  starts  from  an  obli(iue  chitiuous 
ridge,  and  from  nearly  the  middle  of  the  harpes,  instead  of  starting 
directly  from  the  membrane  of  the  side  piece  near  the  lower  margin. 
Strictly  speaking,  ohlinita  shows  several  interesting  points  of  ditter- 
ence,  and  stands  almost  midway  between  the  normal  species  belonguig 
to  group  aurieoma  aiul  Arnilonche.  If  the  insect  is  to  be  removed  from 
Acroiiycta  it  should  find  a  jdace  in  the  latter  genus;  but  taking  all  con- 
siderations together,  I  think  it  is  best  left  where  it  is;  for  the  present 
at  least. 

LARVA. 


Smith  and  Abuot,  Lep.  Ins.  Ga.,  1797,  II,  pi.  xciv.— GuENr^:E,  Spec.  Gen.,  Noct, 
1852,  I,  p.  19.— Haiihks,  Eiit.  Corr.,  18(19,  p.  314,  lig.  14  (saiicts).— I'ackahd, 
Guide  Stud.  Ins.,  1869,  p.  304.— Kilky,  Ainer.  Ent.,  1871,  II,  p.  341,  fig.  210; 
Third  Mo.  K'ept.,  1871,  p.  70,  figs.  29,  30.— SAUNOKUS.Can.  Ent.,  1871,  III,  p.  22(i, 
fig.- Gkntry,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  I'liila.,  1875,  p.  24.— Goodki.l,  Ciiii.  Ent., 
1878,  X,  p.  (56.— Maktkn,  Tr.  Dept.  Agr.,  111.,  1880,  p.  18, 131.— (jIuotk,  Papilio 
II,  p.  99.— Saundkrs,  Ins.  Inj.  P'ruits,  1883,  p.  325,  fig.  337.— Packard,  Eiftli 
Kept.,  U.  S.  Ent.  Conim.,  1890,  p.  567. 

Stage  II. — Head  black  or  brownish  black;  width,  0.5  mm.  Body 
whitish,  with  a  <liffuse  browublack  shade  subdorsally  and  laterally, 
heaviest  on  joints  5,  8-9,  and  lU,  leaving  little  white  patches  on  the 
other  segments.  Venter  shaded  with  brown.  Hairs  numerous,  still", 
du.'iky  bla<'k, 

iStagu  III. — Head  black;  width,  0.7  mm.     Body  as  before,  but  the 


'I 


VOt.  XXI 


RO.1140.      Nnirrn  American  NocTriUAE-sMiTH  anh  dvaii. 


171 


a  t«iiden(;y, 
irk(Ml  extent 


Mountains; 
y,  VViiHliin;; 

I  goiiuH,  and 
oiioiiiic  |iiil)- 
lay  b«  Honuv 
lilt  of  black 
Isc,  because 
nactilations, 
mall  ill  Hi'/A', 
,'emis.  Tlio 
)f  the  speci- 
iloped.  Tiio 
,)hy.si8  small 
0  arc  rather 
onsiHts  of  a 
ittle  ciirvefl. 
il  is  indeed 
f  the  omeri- 
Lie  cliitinous 
of  startinjf 
wer  margin, 
its  of  (lifiei- 
jsbelonguif,' 
imoved  from 
king  all  (!on- 
the  present 


ic.  Gen.,  Noct., 

I).— I'ACKAHl), 

».  341,  lig.  210; 
871,  III,  p.  22(1, 
Lh,  C;m.  Enf., 
JuoTK,  Papilio 
ACKAUD,  Fifth 

mm.  Body 
id  laterally, 
3hes  on  tlio 
lerous,  stitl', 


•re,  but  tLe 


brown  Hliading  is  more  extensive,  eovering  the  body  except  Hubdorsally 
on  (i,  7,  10,  and  11  in  ring  spotH  around  warts  II,  in  little  streaks  in  the 
ineisurcH  and  subventrally  in  a  broad  band  wliitdi  is  narntw  ed  at  wart 
\'  and  forms  a  series  of  Intersegmental  lunate  patches.  These  nuirks 
:ii(f  white.     Hair  black  and  white,  spiny. 

Stayc  IV. — Hew!  black,  labrum  pale;  whlth,  1  mm.  Mody  brown- 
hiack,  slightly  mottled  with  whitish,  the  subdorsal  patches  nearly 
iii'sent,  but  the  substigimital  band  distinct  as  before.  Ilair  mostly 
\\  hitish,  only  .i  few  dusky,  stiff,  bristly. 

Stage  V. — lleadbhujk;  width  1.;}  mm.     Mody  as  before. 

.S7a,7c  VT. — Ueiul,  L'.4  mm.  Ho<ly  brown-bhuk,  a  little  speckled  with 
white,  esjiecially  subdorsally;  a  broad  substigmatal  band  of  interseg- 
mental lunate  spots  white.    Warts  black. 

Stdf/e  \'LI. — IIea<l  scarcely  bilobed,  black;  width,  .'{.7  mm.  Hody 
velvety  black,  mottled  with  yellow  dots,  which  segregate  into  a  series 
of  irregularly  shaped  patches  subdorsally  on  the  posterior  part  of  the 
segnunts  and  in  the  incisures.  A  broad,  yellow  stigmatal  band,  deeply 
iiu'i.sed  at  the  spiracles  and  narrowly  cut  by  wart  V  into  a  .series  of 
hinate  patches  on  Joints  2  to  12.  Spiracles  white.  VVarta  black; 
liair  short,  bristly,  a  few  long  ones  at  the  extremities  and  u  very  few 
tine  short  feathery  hairs  from  warts  I  to  III  on  Joints  5  to  10.  These 
leathery  hairs  may  be  absent  and  are  never  conspicuous.  From  this 
more  generalized  form  there  is  a  wide  variation;  the  warts  may  be 
deep  red,  or  situated  in  a  series  of  broad,  transverse  red  bands,  reach- 
ing across  to  the  spiracles  on  each  segment.  The  yellow  marks  may 
be  very  much  iiuTcased,  the  substigmatal  band  broadened  and  con- 
tinuous, the  subdorsal  spots  forming  a  continuous  mottled  stripe. 

Cocoon. — Si)uu  tiglitly  among  leaves;  composed  of  silk. 

Pupa. — Cylindrical,  terminal  abdominal  segments  rapidly  tapering. 
Segments  coarsely  tubercular  granular,  except  the  smooth,  raised  pos- 
terior margin.  Oases  shagrecned  and  grooved,  nearly  smooth.  Color 
brown,  not  blackish.  Cremaster  flattened,  broad,  concave  below,  slightly 
tubercular,  with  a  more  distinct  tubercle  or  short  spine  on  each  outer 
corner.  Tuft  of  spines  rather  narrow,  but  fine;  sparse,  as  if  partly 
absent,  not  concealing  the  end  of  the  cremaster. 

Food  2)lant8.—Uv\ttonh\ii'.h,  willow,  alder,  strawberry,  raspberry,  etc. 

ACRONYCTA  LANCEOLARIA  Grote. 

Apatela  lanreolaria  Guotk,  Proc  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  1875,  p.  418. 
J'Jiiloiiche  lanceolaria  Grote,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  .50,  pi.  i,  flg.  7;  Papilio,  1888,  III, 
p.  113. 

dround  color  white  or  nearly  so,  very  densely  powdered  with  black, 
so  that  the  insect  obtains  a  bluish  gray  appearance.  Head  and  thorax 
without  distinct  markings,  but  with  a  tendency  to  a  dusky  line  on  the 
patagiae.  Trimaries  with  all  the  markings  obscured.  The  basal  and 
Iransverse  anterior  lines  are  very  feebly  marked  on  the  costa  and  some- 
times entirely  wanting.    There  is  a  bare  indication  of  the  median  shade 


172 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


line  in  the  shape  of  an  oblique  dnsky  streak  on  the  costa.  The  traus 
verse  posterior  line  is  fairly  well  indicated.  It  is  single,  blackish,  a 
little  lunulate,  almost  continuous,  and  is  preceded  by  a  pale  shading. 
There  is  a  vague  blackish  streak  extending  inward  from  the  outer  mar- 
gin through  the  transverse  i)osterior  line  in  the  submedian  interspace. 
An  oblique  dusky  shading  begins  opposite  the  cell  and  extends  to  just 
below  the  apex.  This  shading  is  made  uj)  principally  of  blacki.sh 
streakings  in  the  interspaces,  which  are  longest  between  veins  3  and  4 
and  4  and  5,  and  become  rapidly  shorter  above.  The  orbicular  is  very 
faintly  discernible  as  an  indefliied  whitish  mark.  The  reniforra  consists 
of  an  imperfect  blackish  luuule,  a  little  marked  by  a  paler  sliade.  The 
secondaries  are  white.  Beneath  white,  black  powdered,  without  mark- 
ings in  the  specimens  before  me. 

Expanse,  1.80  to  2  inches  (45  to  50  mm.). 

Hahitai. — Massachusetts,  May,  June,  and  August. 

This  insect  can  not  be  mistaken  for  anything  else.  The  long,  narrow, 
pointed  wings,  in  which  all  the  markings  are  washed  out,  are  uuniis- 
takable.  As  compared  with  ohlinita,  its  nearest  ally,  it  is  yet  longer 
winged,  as  a  whole  larger  in  size,  the  ordinary  markings  almost  entirely 
washed  out,  and  only  the  transverse  posterior  line  at  all  evident. 
Another  point  of  interest  is  the  absence  of  the  terminal  dots,  which  in 
ohlinita  are  very  prominent.  Three  si)ecimens  only  are  under  exami- 
nation, and  all  of  these  are,  unfortunately,  females.  The  head  is 
retracted ;  the  tongue  often  softer  than  in  ohlinita.  The  palpi  are  very 
small  and  weak,  hardly  reaching  to  the  front. 

LARVA. 


Stage  V. — "  riead  medium,  smooth,  tlattened,  greenish  yellow,  front 
black;  two  yellow  lines  above  the  clypeus,  Ibllowing  its  outline,  meet- 
ing at  the  apex;  a  fa'nt,  horizontal,  yellow  mark  below  the  clypeus. 
General  color  of  upper  surface  pale  yellowish  green,  stigmatal  line 
yellow  and  raised.  A  tuft  of  diverging  yellow  hairs  arises  from  eacli 
tubercle.  Spiracles  small,  brown,  oval.  Under  surface  pale  green, 
thickly  mottled  with  brown.  Feet  black;  legs  ])ale  green  with  a  few 
white  hairs.    Length,  22  mm."    (A.  U.  Kirkland,  manuscript.) 

Stage  VI. — [Green]  "Dorsal  line  black.  Tubercles  light  green.  Only 
white  hairs  found  on  the  stigmatal  row  of  tubercles.  Feet  and  outside 
of  prolegs  black.  The  hairs  on  the  sides  of  the  body  are  longer  tli:in 
those  elsewhere.  Spiracles  large,  oval,  surrounded  by  black.  Length, 
25  mm."    (A.  H.  Kirkland.)     Width  of  head,  3.G  mm. 

Cocoon. — Spun  between  leaves,  composed  of  tough,  nearly  white  silk, 
rather  thin  but  opaque.     Shape,  elongate  elliptical,  single. 

Pupa. — Cylindrical,  of  nearly  even  width  to  the  end  of  the  movable 
segments,  then  rathei"  sharply  tapering.  Thorax  and  cases  Avrinkly; 
dorsal  abdominal  segments  with  coarse,  erect,  blunt  spine-like  gran- 
ules, except  ou  a  narrow,  posterior,  smooth,  raised  rim  on  each  segment; 


VOL.  XXI. 


The  tra-aa 
5,  blackish,  a 
)ale  shading, 
le  outei'  inar- 
n  interspace, 
tends  to  just 
of  blacki.sh 
^eins  3  and  4 
cular  is  very 
■orm  consists 
sliade.  The 
ithout  mark- 


long,  narrow, 
t,  are  uuniis- 
is  yet  longer 
most  entirely 
all  evident. 
ots,  which  in 
inder  exauii- 
Dhe  head  is 
alpi  are  very 


yellow,  front 
lUtline,  meet- 
the  clypeus. 
iigraatal  line 
les  from  each 
1  pale  green, 
lU  with  a  few 
ript.) 

green.    Only 

1;  and  outside 

longer  tlian 

ck.    Length, 

ly  white  .silk, 

the  movable 
ses  wrinkly; 
ne-like  gran- 
ach  segment; 


.NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  A ND  DYAR. 


173 


venter  smoother,  the  segments  hardly  wrinkled,  but  with  some  fine 
l»unctures;  posterior  rim  faint.  Cremaster  broad  but  short,  hollowed 
below  and  grooved  above,  with  a  few  deep  coarse  punctures  before  tip- 
a  terminal  bunch  of  numerous  short  bristles.  Dark  mahogany  brown, 
not  blackish.     Length,  19.5;  width,  0.5  mm.  : 

Food  riants. — Willow,  Comptonia,  Oaillardia. 

ACRONYCTA  INSOLITA  Grote. 

Acrotiycia  imoUia  GnoTK,  Bull.  Huff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873,  I,  p.  82. 
Eulonvhc  iiiaolita  (Jkote,  Papilio,  18S3,  III,  p.  113. 

"Resembles  yl.  ohlinita  in  the  lanceolate  primary  wings,  which  are 
even  longer  and  more  produced  apically.  Blackish ;  orbits  of  the  eyes 
white.  Primaries  uniformly  blackish,  the  dark  tone  obscuring  all  orna- 
mentation excei)t  the  transverse  posterior  and  subterminal  lines,  which 
are  oblique  and  appear  as  rather  broad  interspaceal  lunulated  or  sc^uared 
gray  marks,  which,  in  the  as  usual  Hexed  transverse  posterior  line  are 
marked  by  black  outward  points,  the  fragments  of  the  transverse 
terminal  line  itself,  the  gray  marks  being  the  preceding  shade.  Hind 
wings  white  beneath,  with  the  costal  region  dusted  with  blackish  scales. 
Palpi  with  the  second  joint  outwardly  black;  fore  tibiae  with  blackish 
longer  hair.  Abdomen  whitish  above,  darker  beneath,  rather  long. 
The  unusually  dark  color  and  pointed  wings,  together  with  the  peculiar 
appearance  of  the  transverse  lines,  should  make  this  species  very 
recognizable.  This  last  section  of  the  j^euus  reminds  us  of  Leucania. 
"Sly  specimen  of  .1.  insolifa  expands  l.GO  inches.    Coll.  Am.  Ent.  Soc."- 

This  species  is  credited  to  'Tennsylvania"  and  later  to  the  "Middle 
States."  I  marked  it  in  my  catalogue  as  in  the  British  Museum,  but 
have  uo  notes  nor  remembrance  of  the  insoct.  I  have  seen  nothing  iu 
any  collection  accessible  to  me  of  any  form  agreeing  with  the  above 
description;  the  only  one  of  the  genus  with  which  I  am  not  personally 
acquainted. 

ACRONYCTA  DENTATA  Grote. 
(Plate  XIII,  flg.  11,  fenialo  adult.) 
Apatela  dentata  Grotk,  Can.  Ent.,  1875,  VII,  p.  222. 

.l/«/e.— "This  is  allied  to  tritoua  and  f/risra,  but  is  a  smaller  species 
wanting  all  the  black  dashes.  The  ground  color  is  blackish  shaded 
over  with  whitish.  The  Hnes  black,  single,  denticulate.  The  clavilbrm 
is  indicated  by  a  slight  black  mark.  Orbicular  obsolete.  Keniform 
whitish,  rounded,  with  its  outer  edge  black-lined  and  shaded.  Trans- 
verse anterior  line  running  in  a  little  on  median  vein.  Transverse 
posterior  line  inaugurated  a  little  above  the  renitbrm,  running  well 
outwardly,  denticulate  throughout  its  length.  Subterminal  line  hardly 
apparent;  a  blackish  shade  over  median  nervules  on  the  gray  terminal 
sj^ace.  Fringes  gray,  preceded  by  blackish  interspt'ceal  juarkiiigs. 
Hind  wings  fuscous,  lighter  toward  the  base,  with  indistinct  line. 


y 


174 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


Beneath  much  paler,  irrorate,  without  discal  marks  and  with  a  common 
shaded  line.    Expanse,  32  mm.    Quebec.    Mr.  Bowles." 

The  above  is  Mr.  Grote's  description  and  fairly  characterizes  the 
species.  It  is  also  credited  generally  to  the  "  Eastern  and  Northern 
States,"  and  I  have  it  from  the  Adirondack  Mountains  in  July.  I  have 
also  seen  a  specimen  from  northern  New  Hampshire,  but  the  creature 
is  apparently  rare. 

ACRONYCTA  PYRALIS  Smith. 
(Plate  XIII,  lig.  12,  luiilo  adult.) 

Aoronycta  pyralia  Smith,  Ent.  News,  1895,  VI,  pi.  xy,  fig.  1 ;  Ent.  News,  189(5 
VII,  p.  26.  ' 

Ground  color  a  very  dark  powdery  gray;  head  and  thorax  without 
distinct  markings,  but  the  tip  of  the  collar  grayish  and  the  patagiae 
indefinitely  black  margined.  The  primaries  have  all  the  ordinary  mac- 
nlation  evident,  but  not  sharply  detined.  Basal  line  single,  black,  and 
marked  on  the  costa  only.  Transverse  anterior  line  nearly  upright, 
outcurvcd  between  the  veins,  black,  preceded  by  a  few  pale  scales. 
Transverse  posterior  line  widely  outcurved  over  the  cell  and  a  little 
inci  rved  below,  usually  remote  from  the  center  of  the  wing;  black  in 
color,  lunate  between  the  veins  and  followed  by  a  paler  gray  shade. 
Subteimiiijy  lue  obscure,  and  marked  only  by  an  irregular  and  incom- 
plete preceding  dark  shade.  There  is  a  series  of  blackish  terminiil 
lunules  uid  a  very  evident,  blackish,  somewhat  diffuse  shade  across 
tlie  ijiiediaa  space  close  to  and  parallel  with  the  transverse  posterior 
iine,  somewhat-  obscuring  the  reniform.  Orbicular  large^  oval,  obscurely 
definf'd  by  black  scales,  with  or  without  a  dark  central  spot.  Keniform 
broad,  upright,  a  little  incurved;  outwardly  a  little  paler  than  the 
ground  color,  but  interiorly  obscured  by  the  median  shade.  Seconda- 
ries smoky,  with  an  indefinite  extra- median  line  and  pale  fringes. 
Beneath,  smoky  and  powdery;  both  wings  with  an  outer  line. 

Expanse,  1.24  to  1.30  inches  (31  to  34  mm.). 

Habitat. — Calgary,  July  13, 

Two  specimens,  both  females,  were  sent  me  by  Mr.  Dod  under  the 
number  31,  and  tliis  is  said  to  represent  his  stock.  The  species  is  the 
darkest  of  al!  those  known  to  me,  resembling  Uthosinla  in  this  respect, 
but  quite  different  in  markings. 

This  species  is  allied  to  deiUata  with  which  it  is  congeneric.    It  can 

not  remain  in  Aeroni/cta ;  but  I  am  at  a  loss  to  place  it  as  yet,  and 

prefer  to  leave  it  here  for  the  present.     (^ph^rUrd.  Srt,  [McR  2 1  S^C 

'■         a/5-7 

ARSILONCHE  Lederer. 


Arailonche  Lkderer,  Noctuinen  Europas,  1857,  p.  70. 

Moderately  stout  species,  witli  fine  hairy  vestiture,  rather  narrow, 
sr-n-iewliat  pointed  iiriiuarics  which  bear  no  trace  of  transverse 
maculation. 


No.lUO.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAR. 


175 


tb  a  common 


t.  News,  189(), 


Head  moderate  in  size,  distinct  but  not  prominent,  more  retracted  in 
tlie  female,  front  convex  but  not  prominent.  Eyes  full,  well  separated, 
naked  and  without  lashes.  Ocelli  distinct.  Antennae  simple  in  both 
SI  xes,  but  a  little  thicker  and  with  the  joints  somewhat  marked  in  the 
male.  Palpi  rather  feebly  developed,  yet  reaching  well  to  the  front, 
tliongh  not  to  its  middle  in  the  female.  Tongue  weak,  not  useful  for 
foeding. 

Thorax  stout,  convex,  clothed  with  long,  fine  hair,  which  forms  no 
tufts,  and  in  well-preserved  specimens  scarcely  outlines  the  collar  and 
patagiae.  Legs  of  the  usual  noctuid  type,  well  developed,  unarmed 
except  for  the  usual  tibial  spurs. 

Abdomen  conic,  in  both  sexes  exceeding  the  anal  angle  of  the  secon- 
daries, clothed  with  fine  hair  which  forms  no  tufts. 

Primaries  narrow,  moderate  in  length,  the  outer  margin  oblique, 
apex  somewhat  pointed.  In  venation  normally  noctuidous.  Seconda- 
ries trigonate,  proportionate,  vein  5  weak  and  from  the  cross-vein  well 
removed  from  4. 

This  geiuia  differs  from  Acronycta  only  in  the  weak  tongue  and  fine 
liairy  vestiture,  characters  in  which  ohlinita  and  Imiceolaria  are  only  a 
little  less  distinguished. 

There  is,  however,  an  entire  absence  of  the  usual  Acronyetid  appear- 
ance and  maculation,  which  must  be  given  some  weight,  and  the  super- 
licial  resemblance  to  Leucania  is  so  great  that  the  species  has  been 
twice  redescribed  in  that  genus. 

In  sexual  characters  the  species  agrees  with  the  auricoma  group  of 
.1  rronycta. 

Our  only  species,  which  is  the  same  as  the  European,  is: 


i: 

'I 


ARSILONCHE  ALBOVENOSA  Goeze. 

(riates  X,  fig.  7,  female  adult;  XVII,  fig.  2,  legs;  XXII,  fig.  21,  male  genitalia.) 

Noclua  alhorenosa  Goeze,  Eut.  Beitr.,  1781,  III,  3,  p.  251. 

Arailoiiche  albovenom  Mokuison,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila.,  1875,  p.  428.— Harvey, 

Can.  Eiit.,  1870,  VIII,  p.  35.— (iROTE,  Can.  Ent.,  1883,  XX,  p.  30. 
Leucania  henrici  Ghotb,  Bull.  BuflF.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873, 1,  p.  10. 
Ablepharon  henrici  (iROTic,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873,  I,  p.  112,  pi.  i,  fig.  15.— 

MoRuisoN,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Phila.,  1875,  p.  428,  pr.  syn.— (Jrote,  Can.  E-^f  , 

1883,  XV,  p.  30,  au  sp.  (list.  pr. 
lA'Hcania  cvanklum  Gkote,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci..  1873, 1,  p.  10. 
Ablepharon  cranidum  Grote,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat.  Sci.,  1873, 1,  p.  112,  pi.  i,  fig.  16.— 

MoKiiisoN,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Pliila.,  1875,  p.  428,  pr.  syn. 
Ahlephanm  fumosum  Morrison,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc  Nat.  Sci.,  1873,  I,  p.  275. 
Arsilouche  fumoaum  Morrison,  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philii.,  1875,  p.  428. 

(Iround  color  a  very  pale  luteous  gray,  fading  to  almost  white.  Thorax 
V.  ith  disk  and  patagiae  more  or  less  shaded  with  luteous  or  gray.  Pri- 
maries with  all  the  veins  whitish,  often  margined  with  slate  gray,  the 


■       -   1  V  Ctlll 


^  space  of  the  gruund  coior.    A  inon^  proniineiit  siate-gmy 
stieak  runs  throuyh  the  subraediau  interspace  from  the  baye,  where  it  is 


176 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATION  J  L  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


most  distinct,  to  the  outer  margin,  where  it  is  almost  faded  out  to  the 
ground  color.  A  second  streak  starts  narrowly  in  the  median  cell  and 
widens  outwardly,  becoming  somewhat  dift'use  before  the  outer  margin. 
At  the  apex  the  space  between  the  veins  is  also  darker,  slate  gray.  The 
fringes  and  all  the  margins  are  white  or  nearly  so.  There  is  no  trans- 
verse maculation  and  no  trace  of  the  ordinary  spots;  but  in  well- 
preserved  specimens  there  is  a  series  of  small,  slate-gray,  interspaceal 
dots.  Secondaries  white,  sometimes  a  tritio  soiled  toward  the  outer 
margin,  where  there  is  sometimes  a  faint  dusky  shade  at  the  base  of  the 
fringes.  Beneath  white,  the  disk  of  primaries  sometimes  a  little  smoky, 
sometimes  the  costal  region  of  both  wings  yellowish. 

Expanse,  1.35  to  1.70  inches  (34:  to  4U  mm.). 

Habitat. — IJritish  America  and  United  States  generally;  Canada, 
May  and  June;  Massachusetts,  in  April;  central  New  York,  in  June 
and  July;  Kansas  and  California,  in  January. 

This  widely  distributed  species  is  easily  recognizable  by  its  strigatc, 
gray  maculation  on  a  whitish  ground,  resembling  the  species  of  Leu- 
cania  in  this  particular.  The  variation  is  almost  entirely  due  to  the 
condition  of  the  insect  and  its  relative  freshness.  In  recent  specimens 
all  the  described  streakings  are  fully  marked  and  we  have  the  typical 
albovenona;  after  they  have  become  a  little  faded  by  flight  the  gray 
changes  to  a  luteous  and  wo  have  evanidum. 

Mr.  Morrison's /wmosMWi  is  an  abnormally  dark  form  in  which  almost 
the  entire  insect  becomes  slate  gray.  It  is  perhaps  a  question  whether 
the  name  should  be  retained,  but  as  it  is  not  strictly  a  synonym  I  list 
it  as  an  aberration,  as  which  it  has  been  already  recognized. 

The  harpes  of  the  male  are  oblong,  a  little  rounded  at  tip,  at  the 
lower  angle  of  which  are  a  couple  of  little  pegs.  The  clasper  is  a  loni,', 
slender,  curved  hook  resting  on  an  oblique  chitiuous  base  which  is 
inferiorly  continuous  with  the  clasper. 

This  species  is  not  rare. 

LARVA. 


orange  r< 
Hair  sho 

i>)tage 
iiient  spo 
over  the 
iiiie  whiti 
blotched 
wliite;  a 
blotches 
dark,  IV 
(lots  closi 
become  y 

A'frtf/e  1 
forming  i 
of  conflu 
warts  11  g 
of  dorsal 
area  thicl 
even,  nai 
Subventr 
inedio-vei 
hairs  whi 

Cocoon. 

Pupa.— 
coarsely 
have  a  di 
iu  front, 
shagreen* 
not  differ 
spines. 

Food  pi 


Thaxtkr,  Psyche,  1877,  I,  p.  188.— Coijuiii-ETT,  Can.  FAit.,  1880,  XIT,  p.  45.- 
Henky  Edwards,  Eiit.  Auier.,  1888,  III,  p.  171.— Snvdku,  Eiit.  News,  1891, 
V,  p.  277. 

Stage  TV. — Head  bilobed,  shining  black,  translucent  whitish  mot- 
tlings  at  the  side,  a  patch  at  vertex  of  each  lobe  and  a  broken  inverted 
V-mark  bordering  theclypeus;  width,  1.2  mm.  Body  a  little  flattened. 
Warts  large,  black,  with  rather  short  bristly  black  hairs  mixed  with 
pale;  warts  nearly  in  line  transversely.  A  black  dorsal  shade  baud 
filling  in  between  the  ^varts  on  joints  o  to  12;  a  mottled,  transversely 
streaked  lateral  band  and  traces  of  brown  subventrally.  Cervical 
shield  and  anal  plate  black. 

Stage  V. — Head  as  before,  but  the  white  spaces  smaller ;  width,  l.Suiiii. 
IjuUy  largely  mottled  and  streaked  with  black,  a  xjale  subdorsal  line; 


Meroloi 

Very  ro 
head,  we£ 

Head  s 
though  tl 
lashes.  I 
stifl^',  dive 
shortly  p( 

Thorax 
marked,  t 
liattened 
vcstiture 
Pre 


vo.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUI DAE— SMITH  AND  DTAB. 


177 


orange  red  blotches  between  tlie  warts  subdorsally  and  substigmatally. 
Hair  short,  stiff,  black  and  white. 

^Stage  IT.— Head  bilobed,  black,  clypeus  yellowish,  the  black  pig- 
ment spotted,  leaving  a  number  of  white  streaks  on  the  sides,  a  streak 
over  the  apex  and  a  clypeal  V-niark;  lower  half  of  clypeus  and  anten- 
iiiie  white;  width,  about  2.7  mm.  Body  black,  a  white  subdorsal  line 
blotched  with  red  between  warts  I  and  II;  lateral  area  mottled  with 
wliite;  a  white  substigmatal  band,  passing  over  wart  V,  with  orange 
blotches  above  it  on  the  small  wart  IV.  Warts  large,  I  to  III  and  VI 
dark,  IV  and  V  reddish.  The  black  dorsum  is  broken  by  little  white 
(lots  close  to  the  incisures.  Hairs  as  before.  Later  the  white  marks 
become  yellow. 

Stage  TTJ.— Head  shin'ng  black,  side  pieces  of  clypeus  white  or  red, 
forming  a  V  mark,  a  whi  ,e  streak  on  vertex  of  each  lobe  and  a  network 
of  confluent  white  linef,  on  the  sides;  width,  4  mm.  Body  black,  the 
warts  light  orange  rt  d,  obscurely  connected  by  this  color.  Traces 
of  dorsal,  distinct  sr  odorsal  line,  broken  and  mottled,  the  whole  side 
area  thickly  covere-t  with  little  streaks  and  dots  of  yellow;  a  straight, 
even,  narrow  yellow  stigmatal  band,  crossing  the  orange  wart  IV. 
Subventral  area  and  venter  heavily  yellow  dotted;  a  geminate  pale 
inedio-ventral  band.  Hair  black  and  white,  bristly,  mixed  with  softer 
liairs  which  predominate  subventrally.    No  secondary  hairs. 

Cocoon.— Sinm  tightly  among  leaves;  composed  of  silk. 

Pttjpa.— Black,  except  in  the  joinings  of  the  parts,  where  it  is  reddish ; 
coarsely  roughened.  Anal  segments  rapidly  tapering;  the  segments 
have  a  distinct  smooth  raised  posterior  rim  and  are  coarsely  granular 
iu  front,  the  granules  rounded,  subconfluent.  Wing  cases  coarsely 
shagreened.  Cremaster  a  tapering  continuation  of  the  last  segment, 
not  differentiated,  but  bearing  a  thick  terminal  tuft  of  fine  straight 
spines. 

Food  plants.— Gram,  smartweed,  willow. 

MEROLONCHE  Grote. 
Merolonche  Grote,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  50. 

Very  robust,  shaggy  species,  with  loose,  divergent  vestitare,  retracted 
head,  weak  tongue,  and  shortly  pectinated  male  antennae. 

Head  small,  retracted,  front  narrow,  a  little  <  •really  protuberant, 
though  this  varies  in  the  species.  Eyes  small,  naked,  without  hairy 
lushes.  Palpi  small,  hardly  ix;  t^Ciiuig  the  front,  clothed  with  rather 
(Stiff;  diverging  hair.  Tongue  weak,  useless  for  feeding.  Antennae 
shortly  pectinated  in  the  male,  :  :uple  in  the  female., 

Thorax  well  developed,  robust,  convex;  patagiae  and  collar  well 

marked,  the  vestiture  thick,  rather  loose,  and  composed  of  somewhat 

Ihittened  hair.    ]So  tufts  are  formed,  but  there  is  a  bunching  of  the 

vestiture  posteriorly.    Legs  rather  suorl  and  stout,  proportioned,  as 

Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 12 


I 


«  IB: 


\ 

"1 

1 

i4 

ili  ' 

i 

Pi 


178  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  vot.xxi. 

usual  in  the  Noctuids,  but  comparatively  smaller  and  with  shorter  tar- 
sal joints,  of  which  that  at  base  is  somewhat  enlarged,  especially  on  the 
forelegs. 

Abdomen  robust,  conic  in  the  male  and  only  a  little  exceeding  the 
hind  angle  of  the  secondaries;  much  heavier  and  more  cylindrical  in 
the  female,  and  quite  considerably  exceeding  the  anal  angle  of  the 
secondaries.  No  tuftings  except  the  usual  loose  bunching  at  the  sides 
of  the  segments  in  the  male. 

Primaries  rather  short  and  narrow,  trigonate,  outer  margin  oblique, 
apex  a  little  produced.  Venation  in  both  wings  of  the  normal  Noctuid 
type  and  not  in  any  way  different  from  Acronycta. 

This  genus  is  well  distinguished  from  its  allies,  not  only  in  the  gen- 
eral habitus  but  iu  the  shortly  pectinated  antennae  of  the  male,  in 
this  character  it  resembles  Harrisimenna,  while  totally  distinct  in  all 
other  respects. 

There  are  three  rather  unsatisfactory  species,  of  which  spinea  and 
lupini  were  described  by  Mr.  Grote,  and  ttrsina  is  here  first  named. 

Of  spinea  I  have  seen  the  types  only;  of  lupini  I  have  had  numerous 
specimens  which,  while  greatly  varying  in  certain  directions,  never 
quite  reached  the  former  type. 

Spinea  has  a  very  evident  angulated  median  shade  line;  the  other 
median  lines  are  obscured  and  the  ordinary  spots  are  wanting  or  but 
feebly  indicated. 

Lupini  is  a  much  better  marked  species,  with  the  median  lines  and 
ordinary  spots  well  developed  and  the  median  shade  line  obscure  or  at 
least  not  prominent.  This  is  a  somewhat  variable  quantity,  however, 
and  the  sharply  defined  orbicular  and  somewhat  smudgy  reniform  are 
much  more  constant  factors.    Both  species  are  Californian. 

Ursina  is  a  smaller  species,  more  hairy  in  appearance,  the  primaries 
very  evenly  sprinkled  with  white  and  black  scales,  so  as  to  give  a 
powdery  ashy  gray  appearance  in  which  all  the  markings  are  sunken, 
though  traceable.  The  species  is  altogether  slighter,  especially  in  the 
female,  iu  which  the  abdomen  is  neither  so  long  nor  so  clumsy.  It 
occurs  in  the  riiountaiuous  regions  of  Colorado. 

The  sexual  characters  of  the  male  are  essentially  those  of  group 
auricoma,  the  harpes  oblong,  somewhat  acutely  rounded  at  the  tip,  the 
cl.isper  esser  'ally  a  long,  cirved  hook  set  on  an  oblique  ridge,  which 
may  or  may  not  form  an  inferior  process. 

In  tabular  form  the  species  divide  as  follows : 

ANALYTICAL  KEY  TO   SPECIES  OF  MKUOLONCHE. 

Median  shade  line  distinct,  angulated,  forming  the  most  prominent  fe.iture  of  tlie 

primaries;  ordinary  spots  obsolete Bpinen. 

Median  shade  line  subordinate  or  wanting;  Oidinary  spots  present. 

Less  powdery;  all  the  ordinary  markings  fairly  evident;  with  a  vague  yellowish 

tinge lupmi. 

Densely  powdered,  ol)scnring  the  ordinary  markings;  total  impression  a  bluish 
ash  gray „,.gi„tt. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  DYAIi. 


179 


I  shorter  tar- 
icially  on  the 

:ceeding  tlie 
yliudrical  in 
angle  of  the 
at  the  sides 

gin  oblique, 
mal  Noctuid 

7  in  the  gen- 
ie male,  in 
stinct  in  all 

I  spinea  and 
t  named, 
id  numerous 
tious,  never 

3;  the  other 
Dting  or  but 

iJi  lines  and 
bscure  or  at 
;y,  however, 
reniform  are 

le  primaries 

8  to  give  a 
are  sunken, 
cially  in  the 
clumsy.    It 

36  of  group 
the  tip,  the 
'idge,  which 


fe.iture  of  the 
spitiiti. 

-gue  yellowish 

, lupini. 

ssion  a  bltimh 
ursina. 


MEROLONCHE  LUPINI  Grote. 

(Plates  III,  flg.  2,  adult;  X,  Am'.  4,  female  adult;  XV,  fljr.  8,  male  antenna;  XVII," 
lig.  1,  legs;  XXn,  iig.  23,  male  genitalia.) 

Apatela  lupiniGnoTK,  Bull.  Huff.  Soc.  Nat.  ScL,  1873, 1,  p.  79;  Ibid.,  1876,  III,  p.  78» 
Merolonche  lupini  Guote,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  50;  Papilio,  1883,  lll,p.  112. 

(leneral  color  a  somewhat  yellowish  ashen  gray.  Collar  and  patagiae 
more  or  less  black  marked,  but  without  very  definite  lines  or  bands. 
Primaries  powdery,  but  rather  smooth,  and  with  all  the  markings  well 
written.  Basal  line  geminate,  evident  on  the  costa,  vague  below  that 
point.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate,  the  inner  narrow,  outwardly 
bent  and  outcurved  between  the  veins;  the  outer  diftuse  and  more 
evenly  oblique.  Transverse  ])osterior  line  distinct,  denticulate,  a  little 
sinuate,  but  as  a  whole  parallel  with  the  outer  margin.  As  a  rule  it  is 
continuous,  but  it  is  sometimes  broken  into  lunules  and  is  then  preceded 
by  a  white  shade.  Median  shade  line  evident  in  all  specimens,  but 
most  distinct  in  the  female;  narrow,  diffuse,  irregular,  obviously  angu- 
lated  on  the  median  vein,  and  reaching  the  internal  margin  close  to  the 
outer  part  of  the  transverse  anterior  line.  Subterminal  line  pale,  dif- 
fuse,  marked  outwardly  by  a  series  of  more  or  less  connected  dusky 
spots.  A  series  of  black  terminal  dots,  beyond  which  the  fringes  are 
cut  with  black.  Orbicular  small  or  moderate  in  size,  round,  coucolor- 
ous,  outlined  in  blackish.  Reniform  moderate  in  size,  imperfectly 
defined,  and  somewhat  obscured  by  the  median  shade  which  crosses  it 
and  forms  the  inwa?;d  angle  just  below.  Secondaries  smoky,  with  a 
(liscal  lunule,  and  crossed  by  two  vague  dusky  shades  between  and 
beyond  which  the  wini?  is  paler.  Beneath,  primaries  dusky  with  a 
broad  gray  outer  margin;  secondaries  gray,  with  a  large  black  discal 
lunule  and  an  incomplete  dusky  band. 

Expanse,  1.50  to  1.75  inches  (37  to  44  mm.). 

Habitat. — Mendocino  County,  California. 

Specimens  of  this  species  are  usually  in  unsatisfactory  condition 
because  of  their  teudeucy  to  grease,  and  the  yellowish  tinge  that  is 
usual  is  probably  not  liafcural.  The  species  is  fairly  well  marked,  but 
it  is  quite  certain  that  another  smaller  and  more  powdery  species  which 
may  be  my  ursina  has  been  confused  with  it.  The  true  species  is  quite 
evenly  gray  and  scarcely  "hoary."  The  only  variation  in  the  seven 
specimens  before  me  is  in  the  relative  distinctness  of  the  median  shade 
line. 

MEROLONCHE  SPINEA  Grote. 

(Plate  X,  ligs.  2,  3,  mule  and  female  .adults.) 

Apatela  spinea  Grotk,  Bull.  Buff.  Soc.  Nat,  Sci.,  187H,  III,  p.  78. 
Aciomjvta  npiiua  Henuy  Edwards,  Puc.  Coast  l.ep.,  No.  27,  1878,  p.  3. 
Merolonche  spinea  Gkotb,  111.  Essay,  1882,  p.  50;  Papilio,  1883,  III,  p.  112. 

i-Vwftfc.— ''This  species  rcHcmhleK  hiiuni  in  structure  and  size,  and 
may  not  be  eventually  considered  a  good  species.    It  \lifters  by  the 


P 


mr 


180 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXt, 


NO.  1140. 


1 

if 

i 


transverse  posterior  line  being  narrower,  more  continuons,  less  scal- 
loped; oppoHJte  thi!  cell,  between  veins  (!  and  4,  it  is  drawn  in,  forming 
as  usual  a  point  on  the  intermediate  vein  5.  Else,  while  whiter,  inu(;h 
like  its  ally,  the  submedian  dash  well  marked,  the  fringes  checkered. 
Hind  wings  blackish,  with  white  fringes;  tegulae  black  lined." 

The  above  is  Mr.  Grote'«  original  description,  but  none  of  the  charac- 
ters hold.  Nevertheless,  Judging  from  the  extremely  scanty  materiiil, 
the  species  seems  distinct  by  the  absence  of  the  ordinary  spots  and  tlic 
prominence  of  the  narrow,  rather  sharply  defined  median  shade  line. 
The  species,  if  species  it  is,  seems  ranch  less  abundant  than  its  con- 
genera,  hence  it  is  impossible  to  speak  of  the  range  of  variation.  I 
have  seen  the  types  only,  from  which  the  pictures  have  been  made  by 
the  courtesy  of  the  officials  of  the  American  Museum  of  i^atural  History. 
"California,"  is  given  as  the  habitat. 

MEROLONCHE    URSINA,  new  species. 
(Plates  X,  figs.  5,  6,  male  imd  female  adults;  XXII,  fig.  22,  male  genitalia.) 

Dull  ashen  gray,  very  strongly  powdered  with  blackish  hair-like 
scales,  which  give  the  insect  a  peculiar  shaggy  appearance.  Head  and 
thorax  without  obvious  markings,  though  the  patagiae  seem  a  little 
dark  margined  and  the  posterior  mass  of  thoracic  vestiture  is  smoky, 
rrimaries  with  the  markings  obscure,  fragmentary,  and  not  at  all 
defined.  Basal  line  not  traceable.  Transverse  anterior  line  geminate, 
broken,  as  a  whole  nearly  upright,  with  three  rather  even,  though 
small,  outcurves.  Transverse  posterior  line  well  removed  toward  the 
outer  margin,  with  which  its  course  is  nearly  parallel  and  only  a  little 
sijQuate,  consisting  of  a  series  of  black  lunules  preceded  by  a  whitish 
shading.  Subterminal  line  pale,  consisting  of  a  vague  shading  more 
or  less  marked  by  dusky  spots  in  the  interspaces,  sometimes  not  at  all 
traceable.  There  is  a  series  of  blackish  terminal  lunules,  beyond  which 
the  fringe  is  cut  with  dusky.  Orbicular  small,  round  or  oval,  con- 
colorous,  black-ringed.  Reuiform  small,  kidney-shaped,  imperfectly 
defined  by  two  black  lunules.  Secondaries  whitish,  powdery,  more 
smoky  in  the  female.  Beneath,  gray,  powdery,  with  an  indefinite  outer 
line  and  discal  spot  on  all  wings. 

Expanse,  1.40  to  1.60  inches  (35  to  40  mm.). 

Habitat. — Colorado. 

Several  specimens  of  both  sexes  have  been  at  hand,  most  of  them 
collected  by  ]\lr.  David  Bruce  in  the  mountainous  districts  toward 
Glen  wood,  whence  Dr.  William  Barnes  has  also  received  it.  As  com- 
pared with  lupini  the  species  has  smaller,  narrower,  and  more  pointed 
primaries  and  a  larger,  more  quadrate  thorax,  with  proportionately 
smaller  abdomen.  .The  vestiture  is  more  divergent  and  more  hairy,  and 
the  insect  as  a  whole  has  a  bluish  tinge.  None  of  the  markings  are 
evident  and  there  is  only  a  vague  indication  in  some  specimens  of  a 
median  shade.  The  secondaries  are  also  paler,  and  altogether  the 
species  gives  quite  a  different  impression  from  lupini.    I  have  in  the 


N.)  1140.        NOnTH  A  MERICAN  NOCTVIDAE— SMITH  AND  DTAB. 


8,  less  seal- 

in,  forming 

biter,  rnnvh 

checkered. 

the  charac- 
;y  material, 
ots  and  tlni 
shade  line, 
an  its  con- 
iriation.  I 
n  made  by 
:al  Iliatorv. 


181 


initalia.) 

h  hair-like 
Head  and 
em  a  little 
B  is  smoky, 
not  at  all 
i  geminate, 
an,  though 
toward  the 
u\y  a  little 
Y  a  whitish 
bding  inoie 
8  not  at  all 
ond  vvliieh 
oval,  con- 
mperfectly 
dery,  more 
Quite  outer 


8t  of  them 
its  toward 
,  As  com- 
>re  pointed 
Drtionatoly 
hairy,  and 
rkings  are 
iniens  of  a 
?ether  the 
lave  in  the 


past  labeled  specimenn,  with  a  query,  as  spinea,  whi(!h  T  did  not  know 
positively  until  now. 

I  have  three  specimens  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  in  Califor- 
nia which  are  probably  referable  to  this  species,  but  their  condition  is 
n(»t  su(!h  that  I  would  care  to  say  this  positively.  They  are  (certainly 
neither  fipinen  nor  lupitii,  and  I  am  not  yet  ready  to  admit  another 
.s|»('.ciea. 

HARRISIMEMNA  Grote. 

llairmmemna  Okotr,  Trims.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  1873,  IV,  p.  2fl3. 

A  somewhat  slight-bodied  form  with  long,  prominently  tufted  abdo- 
men, strongly  tufted  thorax,  large  trigonate  wings,  and  a  somewhat 
retracted  head. 

Mead  moderate  in  size,  distinct,  but  not  prominent,  front  slightly 
convex,  but  not  bulging.  Eyes  large,  narrowly  separated,  naked, 
without  lashes.  Ocelli  distinct  and  not  concealed.  Tongue  moderate, 
snitable  for  feeding,  but  not  strong.  Palpi  short  and  weak,  hardly 
reaching  to  the  end  of  the  projecting  scales  of  the  front.  Antennae 
very  shortly  pectinated  in  the  male,  simple  in  the  female. 

Thorax  rather  small,  (piadrate,  convex,  thickly  clothed  with  scales 
and  scaly  hair,  which  form  an  enormous  bushy,  posterior  tuft;  collar  and 
]iatagiae  distinct.  Legs  slender,  short  for  the  insect,  but  of  normally 
n()(!tuid  proportion  to  each  other.  Unarmed  except  for  the  usual  spurs, 
which  are  of  very  moderate  size. 

Abdomen  (cylindrical,  much  exceeding  the  anal  angle  of  the  second- 
aries in  both  sexes,  much  stouter  in  the  female.  In  both  sexes  with  a 
series  of  dorsal  tufts,  of  which  that  on  the  fourth  segment  is  enormously 
exaggerated. 

Trimaries  trigonate,  the  apices  somewhat  drawn  out  in  the  male, 
rectangular  in  the  female.  In  the  former  inner  and  outer  margin  are 
almost  of  a  length,  while  the  costa  is  at  least  one-half  longer;  in  the 
latter  the  outer  margin  is  distinctly  shorter  than  the  inner,  and  the 
costa  is  hardly  one-third  longer  than  the  latter.  The  venation  is  nor- 
mally noctuidous. 

Secondaries  proportionate,  vein  5  much  weaker  than  the  others  and 
arising  from  the  cross  vein  well  removed  from  4,  but  nearer  to  it  than  to  6. 

The  only  species  thus  far  known  is : 

HARRISIMEMNA  TRISIGNATA  Walker. 

(I'lates  XV,  fig.  6,  male  antenna;  XVI,  fig.  6,  venation;  XVII,  fig.  4,  legs;  XIX, 

fig.  9,  male  genitalia. ) 

(irammophora  trisiijnato  Walkkr,  Cat.  Brit.  Mus  ,  Het.,  185fi,  IX,  p.  20. 
Harriaimemna  trisUjiiata  Grote,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc.,  1873,   IV,   p.  293;  111. 

Essay,  1882,  p.  49,  pi.  r,  fig.  3. 
Notodonia  sexguttata  Harris,  Ent.  Corresp.,  1869,  p.  174,  figs.  24,  25.— Grote, 

Trans.  Am.  Ent.  B.ns..  1S7S-  IV.  n.  29?..  r.v.  s^n. 

Ground  color  of  head  and  primaries  white,  with  either  a  creamy  or 
bluish  tinge,  varying  in  the  specimens.    Palpi  black  marked.    Head 


182 


PnnCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VfH.  XXI. 


*n 


I 


with  u  broad  black  band  al)ove  the  middle,  a  sliort,  narrow  one  below 
the  antennae,  and   another  Honiewluit   broader  between   the  feelers. 
Collar  white  at  base,  crossed  by  a  broad  blatik  band,  the  upper  portion 
red  brown,  the  edges  Jipped  with   white  scales.     Thorax  red-brown, 
the  edges  of  the  patagiae  white  tipped.    Abdominal  tuftings  at  base 
white,  with  black  tips,  the  prominent  tufts  brown.    Primaries  white 
with  the  ornamentation  black  and  contrasting,  but  a  little  confused  by 
irregular  black  powderings,  which  sometinios  darken  the  inferior  por 
tion  of  the  median  space.    Tiie  most  prominent  features  are  three 
almost  round,  red  brown  patches  situated  as  follows:  One  near  the 
base,  filling  tlie  si)ace  between  the  basal  and  transverse  anterior  lines 
and  the  costa  and  median  vein;  another  close  to  the  apex,  filling  tlie 
space    between    the   transverse  posterior  and  subterminal  lines,  tlie 
costa,  and  vein  G;  the  third  just  above  the  hind  angle  extending  from 
the  transverse  posterior  line  almost  to  the  exterior  margin  and  between 
veins  2  and  .'5.    Basal  line  geminate,  prominent,  black,  terminating  in 
a  larger  black  patch  in  the  submedian  interspace.    Transverse  ante- 
rior line  geminate,  almost  upright,  outcurved  in  the  interspaces;  the 
inner  line  well  defined,  the  outer  often  diffuse  and  powdery.    Trans- 
verse posterior  line  geminate,  very  irregularly  dentate,  outwardly 
angulate  so  as  to  from  two  prominent  teeth  on  veins  3  and  4.    Both 
lines  are  distinct,  but  the  inner  tends  to  become  diftuse.    There  is  no 
obvious  subterminal  line,  but  there  is  a  series  of  disconnected  spots 
and  shades  which  may  represent  it.    A  series  of  black  terminal  lunults 
is  preceded  by  narrow  white  crescents.     Fringes  white,   cut  with 
blackish.    The  median  shade  line  is  prominently  marked  on  the  costa, 
but  is  obscured  below  that  point  by  the  black  powderings.    Orbicular 
moderate,  round,  concolorous,  black  ringed  and  with  a  black  center. 
Reniform  large,  kidney-shaped,  black-ringed,   with  a  dusky  central 
lunule.    Secondaries  in  the  male  white,  with  blackish  apical  powder- 
ings and  a  series  of  smoky  terminal  lunules ;  in  the  female  deep  smoky 
brown  with  contrasting  white  fringes.    Beneath,  whitish  in  the  male, 
apices  of  both  wings  smoky  and  both  with  an  imperfect  extra  discal 
dark  line;  in  the  female,  primaries  smoky,  with  contrasting  white 
fringes   which  are  cut  with   brown;  secondaries   whitish  with   two 
smoky  transverse  lines,  a  broad  smoky  margin,  and  a  dark  discal 
lunule. 

Expanse,  1.20  to  1.55  inches  (30  to  35  mm.). 

Habitat.— (jAunda  to  Texas,  west  to  Wisconsin  and  Missouri;  Canada 
in  July;  Massachusetts  in  June;  Long  Island,  New  York,  in  July. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  of  the  North  American  noctuids  and 
certainly  by  all  odds  the  most  aberrant  and  striking  of  those  here 
treated.  The  three  round  brown  patches  on  each  wing  give  the  insect 
an  absolutely  unique  appearance.  The  only  observable  variation  is  in 
the  amount  of  the  black  powdering. 


NO.  lUO.        NORTtt  AMBMICAN  NOCTUIDA K-BMITB  AND  D  FAR. 


183 


LARVA. 

Mkihiikimrh,  Tlarrin'M  Corr«ni».,  1860,  p.  114.— HARRlfl,  Erit.  Coir.,  18fi9,  p.  174,  ' 
tig.  IT.,— I'ai  KAi«i>,  <Jiiiil«,  1H«!),  1),  HOJ— GdODHi  K,  Cun.  Eut.,  1880,  XVIII, 
l»r5H.— Dyah,  Ent.  NewB,  1895,  VI,  \>.  340. 

Stage  V.— Width  of  head,  1.7  mm.;  shaped  as  in  the  next  stage. 

iStayc  VI.— Width  of  head,  2.2  mm.  vSliglitly  bilobed,  clypeus  very 
high,  a  \oi)g  conical  tubercle  before  the  apex  of  each  lobe,  pointing 
«ibli(iuely  Ibrwavd,  bearing  the  upper  epicranial  seta  on  its  upper  aspect 
hefore  the  tip;  setae  short,  stiff. 

Statjv  VII. — Ile'ad  slightly  bilobed,  higher  than  wide,  smooth  and 
loundcd,  no  tubercles;  width,  ^{.3  mm.  Black  with  a  reddish  shade 
ill  the  sutures,  shining.  Body  compressed,  higher  than  wide;  feet, 
especially  the  abdominal,  very  long.  Joints  5-7  slender  and  arched,  12 
very  strongly  humped,  tubercles  I  and  II  in  an  elevated  square,  the 
lower  part  of  the  Kegment  small,  so  that  joint  13  with  the  anal  feet  is 
placed  nearly  directly  beneath  it.  Tubercles  large,  chitinous  on  the 
liumj)ed  parts,  elsewhere  small,  reduced  to  single  setae,  except  VI, 
which  bears  many,  and  1 1  on  thorax,  which  bears  two,  setae.  Hair  stiff, 
long,  especially  on  the  humped  parts,  white.  Cervical  shield  attached 
to  the  head  by  a  hrm  membrane,  the  anterior  dorsal  pair  of  hairs  being 
attached  at  the  tip  to  the  labrum  of  the  head  case  of  the  preceding 
stage,  forming  a  string  of  cast  heads.  Color  black,  shading  into  red- 
brown  on  the  anterior  side  on  the  hump  on  Joint  12  and  thoracic  feet. 
Sides  of  joints  7  to  10  streaked  and  washed  with  whitish  flesh-color, 
joining  over  the  back  centrally.  The  larvae  are  solitary,  wagging  the 
string  of  cast  heads  from  side  to  side  when  disturbed. 

Cocoon. — A  hole  of  the  diameter  of  the  body  of  the  larva  bored  in 
wood  '•  one-fourth  inch  horizontally,  then  down  about  2  inches  like  a 
woodpecker's  hole  in  miniature,  the  opening  covered  with  thin  parch- 
ment like  silk  very  near  the  color  of  the  bark.  The  chips  are  wadded 
up  into  balls  about  the  size  of  B  shot"  (Goodhue). 
Food  plants. — Winterberry,  lilac. 


list  of  the  genera  and  species. 
Pantheinae. 


PANTHEA  Hiibner. 

1.  fiircilla  Packard. 

2.  gijj;iiiitea  French. 

3.  porllandia  Grote. 

4.  acronyctoides  Walker. 

leucomelana  Morrison. 

DEMAS  Stephens. 
1.  propinquiliuea  Grote. 


DEMAS  Stephens— Continued. 

2.  llavicornis  Smith. 

3.  palfita  Grote. 

CHARADRA  "Walker. 

1.  deridens  Guende. 

circuU/era  Walker. 
contigna  Walker. 

2.  dispulsa  Morrison. 

3.  decora  Morrison. 


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Sciences 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


184 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


m. 


1  > 


ACRONYOTINI. 
ACRONYCTA  Ochsenheimer. 


Group  AMEBICANA. 

1.  riibricioma  Gaon<?e. 

2.  aniericana  Harris. 

<iverie\  Smith  autl  Abbot. 
acericola  Gueiido. 
haHtnlifm-a  X  larva  Guont'e. 
ohacura  Hen'"   '.idwaiclB.   ' 

3.  liastulifcia  Smith  aud  Abbot. 

act^-icola  t  larva  Gueude. 

4.  hesperida  Smith. 

5.  diictylina  Grote. 

6.  felina  Grote. 

7.  fiigida  Smith. 

lepuaculiua  t  Edwards. 
felina  t  French. 

8.  pacifica  Smith. 

9.  insita  Walker. 

var.  canadensis  Smith. 

10.  ere tata  Smith. 

11.  leporina  Linnaeus. 

vuljnna  Grote. 

sancta  Henry  Edwards.         ' 

12.  popnli  Riley. 

13.  lepnsculina  Guende. 

14.  Cinderella  Smith. 

15.  trausversata  Smith. 

16.  tota  Grote. 

Oroup  lOBELIAE. 

17.  iimotata  Guende. 

gmcfii  Grote. 

18.  betulac  Riley. 

19.  morula  Grote  and  Robinson. 

iilmi  Harris. 

20.  occidentalis  Grote  and  Robinson. 

jisi  t  Gueuc^e. 
intciriipta  (iuendo, 

21.  laetifica  Smith. 

22.  lobeliae  Gueude. 

23.  furcifora  Gueude. 

24.  hasta  Gueude. 

teliim  Guende. 

25.  manitoba  Smith. 

26.  thoracica  Grote. 

27.  strigulata  Smith. 

28.  radclift'ei  Harvey. 

29.  quailrata  Grote. 

30.  spiuigera  Gueude. 

harveyaiia  Grote. 

31.  pruui  Harris. 

CiSTcSCSiii  |  GrOtO. 


Group  lOBEUAE— Continued. 

32.  brumosa  Guende. 

impleta  Walker. 
aiihochrea  Grote. 

33.  superans  Guende. 

34.  litho.spila  Grote. 

35.  tritona  Hiibner. 

36.  counecta  Guende. 

37.  funeralis  Grote  and  Robinson. 

ammcana  t  Harris. 

38.  frogilis  Guendo. 

spectana  Walker. 

39.  miuolJa  Dyar. 

40.  paupercula  Grote. 

41.  vinnula  Grote. 

42.  revel  lata  Smith. 

43.  grisea  Walker. 

piidoraia  Morrison. 

44.  mausueta  Smith. 

45.  falcula  Grote. 

46.  parallela  Grote. 

Group  PEBSXTASA. 

47.  afflicta  Grote. 

48.  persuasa  Harvey. 

49.  liturata  Smith. 

50.  marmorata  Smith. 

Group  HAHAHEUS. 

51.  albarufa  Grote. 

walker i  Andrews. 

52.  ovata  Grote. 

53.  modica  Walker. 

exilia  Grote. 

54.  claresccns  Guende. 

haeaifala  Grote. 

55.  hamamelis  Guende. 
5().  increta  Morrison. 

57.  retardata  Walker. 

diaaecta  Grote  and  Robinson. 

Group  AUBICOMA. 

58.  illita  Smith. 

59.  luteicoma  Grote  aud  Robinson. 

60.  sperata  Grote. 

61.  noctivaga  Grote. 

loiiga  t  Walker. 

62.  emaculata  Smith. 

63.  impressa  Walker. 

faaciata  Walker. 
brumoaa  |  Grote. 
verillii  Grote  and  Robinson, 


VOL.  XXI. 


NO.  1140.        NOR TH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE— SMITH  AND  D YA R. 


185 


9ntinued. 


)l)inson. 


lA. 


LIS. 


l)in8on. 
A. 

binson. 


tmson. 


AciiONYCTiNi— Continued. 
ACRONYCTA  Ochsenheimer— Coutinned. 


64, 

05. 
66, 
67. 
68, 
69, 


70, 

71. 
72. 
73. 
74. 


Group  AnmcOHA— CoDtinned. 

dist.anH  Grote. 
barnesii  Smith, 
pordita  Grote, 
edolata  Grote. 
extricatii  Grote. 
xyliniformia  Gueiide. 

loiiga  Giieni^e. 

apitiu/era  {(irote. 

2)allidicom(i  (h'ote. 
oblinita  Bmitb  and  Abbot. 

aalicia  Harris, 
lanceolaria  Groto. 
insolita  Grote. 
dentata  Grote. 
pyralis  Smith. 


ARSILONCHE  Lederer. 

1.  alboveuosa  Goeze. 
ht'tirici  Groto. 
evanidum  Grote. 
ab,  fiimosiiui  Morrison. 

MEROLONCHE  Grote. 

1.  spinoa  Grote. 

2.  lupini  Grote. 

3.  ursina  Smith. 

HARRISIMEMNA  Grote. 

1.  trisif^nata  Walker. 
aexyuttata  Harris. 


EXPLANATION  OF  PLATES. 


Plate  I. 


12, 
13 
14. 
15. 


Fig.  14  is  hardly  char- 


lUnstrations  of  species  of  Acronycta: 
Fig.  1.  Acronycta  lepuaculina  Giieuoe. 
2    Acronycta  americatia  Harris. 

3.  Acronycta  daclyltna  Grote. 

4.  Acronycta  riibricoma  Guem^e. 

5.  Acronycta  luteicoma  Grote  and  Robinson.  '^  i¥XVpk'*  ft  <  "Bl 

6.  Acronycta  auperana  Guenee. 
11.  Acronycta  noctivaya  Grote. 

Acronycta  impretaa  Walker. 
Acronycta  lithoapila  Grote. 
Acronycta  hasta  Gnon6e. 
Aci'onyota  offlicta  Grote. 
The  numbers  7  to  10,  inclusive,  are  wanting  on  the  pl.ite. 
acteristic  .and  represents  an  abnormal  type. 

This  and  the  plates  follov/injLf,  to  ,and  including  Plate  VII,  were  prep.ired  for  the 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  as  stated  in  the  Introduction. 

Plate  II. 

Illustrations  of  species  of  Acronycta: 

Fig.  1.  Aci'onycta  hamamelia  Guetx6e ;  normal  type. 

2.  Acronycta  hamamelia  Guende ;  suffused  form. 

3.  Acronycta  hamamelia  GvLei\6e ;  pale  form. 

4.  Acronycta  modica  Walker. 

5.  Acronycta  retardata  Walker. 

6.  Aeronycta  aperata  Grote. 

X  7.  Acronycta  pai  Lmn&ena  (Enropean). 

8,  Acronycta  ocoidenfalia  Grote  and  Robinson. 


S   f 


=  -  I  T  —  ' 


"i4,Mt^    0^4 


hi 


11 


!    fj 


II 


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VOL,  XXI. 


NO.  1140. 


ip^sf 


'  J^l 


Fig.  9.  Aoronycta  tritona  HUbner. 

10.  Aoronycta  morula  Grote  and  Robinson. 

11.  Aoronyria  lobelias  Gnende. 

12.  Aoronycta  hiistulifera  Smith  and  Abbot;  female. 

13.  Aoronycta  fur  cif era  Quen6e;  male. 

14.  Aeronyctafurcifera  Gnen6e;  female. 

15.  Aoronycta  furcifera  Qnen6ef  female.  ' 

16.  Aoronycta  connecta  Grote. 

17.  Aoronycta  innotata  Guen6e ;  normal. 

18.  Aoronycta  innotata  Qnen6e;  rare  form. 

19.  Aoronycta  betulae  Riloy. 

Fig.  14  represents  an  unusually  small  pale  form ;  fig.  15  is  nearer  the  usual  type. 

Plate  III. 

Illustrations  of  species  of  Aoronycta  and  Merolonche: 
Fig.  1.  Aoronycta  quadrata  Grote. 
X2.  Merolonche  lupini  Grote. 

3.  Aoronycta  clareacens  Guen6e. 

4.  Acronyota  grisea  Walker. 

5.  Acronyota  haatulifera  Smith  and  Abbott ;  male. 
'^  6.  Aoronycta  perdita  Giote. 

7.  Aoronycta  funeralia  Grote  and  Kobiuson. 
X  8.  Aoronycta  thoraoica  Grote. 
X  9.  Aoronycta  parallela  Giote. 

10.  Acronyota  albarufa  Grote.  . 

11.  Acronyota persua8aiiBkivey^hr**''f^()'^'9i,  Crfu'j  . ^JbL»^  £>rui*t»»J> 

12.  Acronyota  laetifica  Smith. 

Fig.  10  is  bad  in  all  points,  and  reference  should  be  had  to  Plate  XII,  fig.  9,  for  a 
more  accurate  figure. 

Platk  IV. 

Illustrations  of  species  of  Aoronycta  : 
X  Fig.  1.  Acronyota  edolata  Grote. 

2.  Aoronycta  hasta  Guende. 

3.  ^cronyc/a  iM8i<a  Walker;  male. 

4.  Aoronycta  prvni 'H.&vxm. 

5.  Acronyota  xyliniformis  Guende ;  female. 

6.  Aoronycta  oblinita  Smith  and  Abbot;  male. 

7.  Aoronycta  ovata  Grote. 

8.  Aoronycta  ovata  Grote. 

9.  Acronyota  modica  Walker. 

10.  Aoronycta  xyliniformis  Guende ;  male.  *  * 

11.  Aoronycta  vinnula  Grote.  >• 

12.  Aoronycta  xyliniformis  Guende. 

13.  ^croni/t<ao6Mni<a  Smith  and  Abbot;  female. 

14.  Jcronycte  o6iini<o  Smith  and  Abbot;  male.  i« 

15.  Jcronyctox^iini/ormis  Guen6e;  female.     ""     '  » 

Fig.  14  represents  an  unusually  small  form,  the  usual  size  blbing  better  showu 
at  6.    Figs.  5,  10, 12,  and  15  fairly  represent  the  variation  iu  the  species  named. 

Plate  V.  >", 

Larvae  of  Acronyota : 
Fig.  1,  Aoronycta  afflicta;  larva  above. 

2.  Aoronycta  afflicta;  larva  in  characteristic  position  on  a  leaf. 

3.  Aoronycta  ovata;  Jarva  at  rest  on  leaf. 


Fig.  4 
r. 


Ai 
{).  A 

6.  A 

7.  A 

8.  A 

9.  A 
Fig.  9  i 

))y  a  funj 


Fig. 


La 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
16. 
16. 
17. 


Li 
Fig.  18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 


::.  lonotAk  GtA 


Fig, 


L 

26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31, 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
Frou 
Dr.  C. 


] 
Fig.    ] 

k  i 


:^>Wr.t^^ 


•"9* 


NO.  1140. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITH  AND  DTAR.  187 


usual  type. 


fig.  9,  for  a 


Fig.  4.  Acronycta  betulae;  immature  larva. 

5.  Acroniicta  betulae;  full-grown  larva. 

6.  Amonycta  modica;  larva  ibove. 

7.  Acronycta  occidentalis;  larva  above. 

8.  Acronycta  occidentalia;  larva  from  side. 

9.  Acronycta  radcliffei;  larva  above ;  its  head  much  enlarged  at  9a.      , 

Fig.  9  i8  bad  in  all  respects,  and  was  made  from  a  discolored  specimen  stiffened 
liy  a  fungus  growth. 

Plate  VI. 

liBrvae  of  A cronycta :  ' 

Fig.  10.  JeroHi/cto/uroi/tra;  larva  above.  . 

11.  Acronycta  radcliffei;  larva  from  side. 

12.  Acronycta  ha»tulifvra;  larva  above. 

13.  Acronycta  hattulifera;  larva  from  side.  ,  ^     .   «. 

14.  Acronycta  rubrwoma;  larva ;  green  form,  with  yellow,  almost  complete,  tufts. 

15.  Acronycta  rubricoma;  larva;  yellow  form  with  black  tufts  partly  lost. 

16.  Acronycta  luteicoma;  larva  above. 

17.  Acronycta  americana;  larva  from  side. 

Platb  VII. 

Larvae  of  Acronycta : 
Fig.  18.  Acronycta  dactylina;  larva  above. 

19.  Acronycta  dactylina;  larva  from  side. 

20.  Acronycta  morula;  larva  above. 

21.  Acronycta  morula;  larva  from  side. 

22.  Acronycta  primi;  larva  above. 

23.  Acronycta  pruni;  larva  from  side. 

24.  Acronycta  lobeliae;  larva  above. 

25.  Acronycta  populi;  larva  la  characteristic  position  on  leaf. 

Plate  VIII. 


Fig, 


tter  shown 
oamed. 


Larvae  of  Acronycta : 

26.  Acronycta  leporina;  larva  iu  characteristic  position  on  leaf. 

27.  Acronycta  noctivaga;  larva  above. 

28.  Acronycta  noctivaga;  larva  from  side. 

29.  Acronycta  oblinita;  larva  above;  pale  form  with  red  hair. 

30.  Acronycta  oblinitu;  larva  from  side ;  black  form  with  pale  hair. 

31.  Acronycta  sperata ;  larva  from  side. 

32.  /lofonj/ciagperafa;  larva  above. 

33.  Acronycta  impresaa ;  larva  above. 

34.  Acronycta  impresaa ;  larva  from  side. 

35.  Acronycta  xyliniformiB ;  larva  from  side  and  from  above. 

36.  Demas  propinquilinea;  larva  on  leaf  from  side. 

37.  Paneftea/wreiHa;  larva  from  side  on  pine.  ,      ^.      ^.         c 
From  figures  drawn  and  colored  by  Miss  L.  Sullivan  under  the  direction  of 

Dr.  C.  V.  Riley. 

Plate  IX. 

Illustrations  of  Pantheids : 
Fig.    1.  i'aii«Am/«»ci?Za  Packard;  female. 
y  2.  Panthea  gigantea  French ;  male. 
*  3.  Panthea  gigantea  French;  female. 
X4.  Fanl'hea  porilandia  Qroto;  female. 


188 

Fig. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


5.  I'antlim  acroni/ctoifles  Walker;  male. 

«{.  I'anlhea  aa-ouyvloiden  Walker;  feiualo,  from  an  iinporfect  spocinicu. 

7.  Itemua propiniiuillnea  Grote;  mule. 

8.  hemaspropinquilhiea  Grote;  female. 
!».  Demas  flarivornh  Smith ;  male. 

10.  Deman  flavicor, lis  Smith;  female, 
yll.  Charadra  dispiilsa  Minrisou;  male. 
12.  Chamdra  deri(le»8  Gueui'e;  female. 
Keprodmed  from  slightly  enlarged  photograpbe.    All  of  the  prints  from  which 
thoBe  plat..8  of  adult  inH,.ctH  wer.  made  have  been  touche.l  up  wFth  a  br,  It^    are 
imperloct.ons  and  to  «ecuro  somewhat  stronger  contrasts  " 


-v*V 


1 1 


i^imda 


C^rt, 


Plate  X. 

Illustrations  of  Acronycta  and  allied  genera: 
Fig.xl.  /.»em«»prt7o<a  Grote;  male. 

X2.  Merolonche  8^  hiea  Grott-;  from  the  male  type. 
X  3.  Merolomhe  spinea  Grote;  from  the  lemale  type. 
X  4.  Merolonche  liipini  Grote;  from  the  female  type. 
*  5.  Merolonche  urmia  Smith ;  male. 
X  6.  Merolonche  ursina  Smith ;  female. 

7.  Arsilonchealbovetioaa  Goeze;  female.  ss.SlVK\yr*.    Kchrt'ci 

8.  Acronijcta  inaita  Walker ;  mule. 
^  9.  Acrcyctahesperida  Smith;  from  the  female  type. 
A"  10.  Acronycta  iranareraata  Smith ;  from  the  male  type. 
A  11.  Acronycta  tota  Grote;  female. 

Somewhat  larger  than  natural  size  and  reproduced  from  enlarged  photographs. 

Plate  XI. 

Illustrations  of  species  of  Jo'on^c/a; 
Fig.    1.  Acronycta  leporinaLimiaena;  male.  ^^^.  a*^  c*-ttktft\AeS^e-;'. 

f2.  Acronycta  leporinaUimaem;  female,  from  American  specimens 
S.  Acronycta  cretata  Smith;  from  a  male  type.    )   .\.y^<^u\l*^  r  . 
4.  Acronycta  cretata  Smith;  from  a  female  type.  J  "»*?**•*""»"»«'• 
X  5.  Acronycta pacifica  Smith;  from  the  male  type. 
>(■  6.  Acronycta  friyida  Smith;  from  the  male  type. 

7.  Acronycta popnli  Riley;  from  a  female  typo.  ,  Up«.stv*.\\A»^G*;. 
».  Acronycta  lepusciilina  Gueu6i^,;  female. 
■X9.  -Icroni/c^a/e/ino  Grote;  female. 
Mo.  Acronycta frigida  Smith;  from  a  female  type. 

11.  Acronycta  Cinderella  Smith;  from  the  male  type.Tt  Je.P»«'S&«*l»V\»  (?»Vi 
P<  12.  JcroHi/c/ai/n/a  Smith;  from  the  female  type  " 

phttographs'."''''''*  ^''''''  *^'"  "'^*'"'''  "'"  ""^'^^^  reproduced  from  enlarged 

Plate  XU. 

Illustrations  of  species  of  Acronycta  : 
Fig.    1.  Acronycta  maiiitobaStaith;  from  a  female  type. 
)(2.  Acronycta ijanpercula  Grote;  male. 

3.  Acronycta  frayilia  Gneuce;  female. 

4.  Acronycta  radcliffei  Harvey ;  male. 

5.  Acronycta  apinigera  Guem<e;  female. 
^6.  Acronycta  alrigulata  Smith;  from  a  female  type. 
X  7.  Acronycta  mansnela  Smith ;  from  a  male  type. 
X  8.  Acronycta  falcula  Qrote;  female. 


fv*<** 


4f  pu.ycifvra».  &rv, 


^  as^  ^  IoJo.Qa-^* 


VOU  XXI. 


NO.  1140.         NORTH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDA E-SMITH  ANT)  D Y.f  B. 


189 


uimuu. 


ts  from  which 
brush  to  euro 


:i  (^rt^ 


9tograph8. 


I. 


>m  enlarged 


Fig.    f).  A  iron  jiola  albariif a  Or  ote;  female, 

10.  Acronycta  ovata  Grote;  female. 

11.  Acronycta  clartavem  Gixien6e;  fema,]f>, 

12.  Acronycta  hamamelis  (j\ien('e;  female. 

13.  Acronycta  increta  MorriHon ;  female. 

14.  Acronycta  retnrtlala  Wulkor;  variety  of  female.  , 

All  are  somewhat  greater  thau  natural  size  and  are  n^produced  from'  enlarged 
l)hotograph8. 

Plate  XIII. 


i¥y\\ 


yrefrSA  /^//<. 


^i,r«..-oSa    ^M/'^/U^f 


Illustrations  of  species  of  Acronycta: 
Fig.    1.  Acronycta  brumoiia  Gueme;  female. 

2.  Acronycta  emaoulata  Smith;  from  the  male  type.    SS^ 
V.  3.  Acronycta  marmorata  Smith;  from  the  male  typo. 

4.  Acronycta  mprcssa  Walker;  male. 

5.  Acronycta  impresaaWiilker',  female. 

6.  Acronycta  distana  Gtote;  male. 

7.  Acronycta  diatana  Gvote;  female. 

8.  Acronycta  Htiirata  Smith ;  from  a  female  typo. 
X>9'  Acronycta  extrkata  Grote;  female. 
klO.  Acronycta  barneaii  Smith;  from  a  male  type.  XfSC   //»   eULLi/MA^ 

11.  Jc>OHi/c/a(?en^(ta  Grote;  lemale.  1  Q^^^^ye-t  f  ai  b"^^*    ^ISl  l^"**'^    I  Nfk  J 
yt,Vl.  Jcconj/c/rt  pi/ra/is  Smith;  male.     ^       i 

All  are  somewhat  greater  than  natural  size  and  are  reproduced  from  enlarged 
photographs. 

Plate  XIV. 

Body  strnctures  of  Acronycta  and  allied  genera: 
Fig.    1.  I'anthea  portlandia ;  head  and  thorax  from  above. 

2.  Charadra  diapulaa;  head  and  thorax  from  above. 

3.  Acronycta  americana;  head  and  thorax  from  above. 

4.  Acronycta  oblinUa;  head  and  thorax  from  above. 

5.  Pan thea  portlandia ;  head  and  thorax  from  side. 

6.  Acronycta  americana;  thorax  from  side. 

7.  .,4 cronyc<a  morula;  thorax  from  side. 

8.  Acronycta  retardata;  thorax  from  side. 
-    9.  Aroronycta  impreaaa;  thorax  from  Bide. 

10.  Acronycta  oblinita;  thorax  from  side. 

11.  Acronycta  americana;  ovipositor  of  female. 

12.  Acronycta  ovata ;  ovipositor  of  female. 

13.  Acronycta  morula;  male  genitalia  seen  from  side  (upper  figure)  and  from 

beneath  (lower  figure). 
All  figures  from  drawings  by  Dr.  .1.  B.  Smith,  except  11,  12,  and  3,  which  are  from 
sketches  made  by  Mr.  Theodore  Pergande. 

Plate  XV. 

Head  structures  of  Acronycta  and  allies : 

Fig.  1.  Charadra  deridena;  antenna  of  male  at  tip. 

2.  Charadra  deridena;  antenna  of  male  toward  base. 

3.  Charadra  diapulaa;  antenna  of  male  at  tip. 

4.  Charadra  diapulaa;  antenna  of  male  near  base. 

5.  Panthea  portlandia;  antenna  of  male  near  middle. 

6.  ffarriaimemna  triaUjnata;  antenna  of  male  toward  tip. 

7.  Kaphiaf rater;  antenna  of  male  near  middle. 

8.  Merolonche  lupini;  antenna  of  male  near  middle;   the  details  of  structure 

are  omitted  on  all  save  three  joints. 


190 


PBOCEEDINOS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM. 


you  XXI. 


Fig.    9.  Aotonyvia  iritona;  base*  of  maxilla,  showing  th«  maxillary  palpus. 

10.  Acnmijcla  rabricoma;  Load  Croin  above. 

11.  Aoromjcla  americava;  head  from  above. 

12.  Acronyvla  morula;  ho.ad  from  t\hovt\ 

13.  Acronycta  auricoma;  head  from  above. 

14.  AcroHi/ola  sylini/ormis;  head  f'oiii  above. 

15.  Acronycta  amcricana;  head  from  wid*).  ' 

16.  Acronycta  riihricotna;  head  from  nide. 

17.  Acronycta  morula;  head  from  side. 

18.  Acronycta  lutcieoma;  head  from  side. 

19.  Acronycta  auricoma;  head  from  side. 

20.  Acronycta  xyliniformix;  head  from  wide.  ^ 

21.  I'anthca  portlandia;  head  from  front. 

22.  Charadra  derident;  head  from  front. 

23.  Acronycta  americana;  head  from  front. 

All  from  drawings  b.y  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith;  and,  except  the  heads,  made  with  camera 
lucida. 

,  Plate  XVI. 

Venation  oi  Aci-onycta  and  its  allies: 
Fig.  1.  Venation  of  primaries  of  Panthea  portlandia  toward  the  apex,  and  origin  of 
veins  2  to  5  of  secondaries. 

2.  Venation  of  I>fl»ia»yfaDiconu«,  female. 

3.  Bemasftavicornia,  showing  origin  of  veins  6  to  11  on  primages  with  accessory 

cell  absent. 

4.  Variations  in  the  shape  of  accessory  cell  and  th<^  origin  of  veins  6  to  10  in 

Demaa  and  Panthea. 

5.  Charadra  diapulsa,  venation  of  primaries  toward  apex,  and  origin  of  veins  2 

to  5  of  secondaries. 

6.  Venation  of  Harriaimemna  triaiynala,  female. 

7.  Venation  of  y;apAj«/ra<er,  female. 

8.  Venation  of  Acronycta  dactylina,  male. 

9   Acronycta  hetulav;  showing  origin  of  veins  6  to  10  of  primaries. 

10.  Acronycta  Hthoapila;  showing  origin  of  veins  6  to  10  of  primaries. 

11.  Acronycta  albarufa;  showing  origin  of  veins  6  to  10  of  primaries. 
All  from  camera  lucida  sketches  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith. 

Plate  XVII. 

Leg  structures  in  Acronycta  and  allies : 
Fig.    1.  All  legs  of  Merolonche  lupini. 

2.  All  legs  of  Arailonche  alhovcnom. 

3.  All  legs  of  Acronycta  dactylina. 

4.  All  legs  of  Harriaimcmna  triaiynata. 
All  legs  of  Charadra  deridcna.  ' 
All  legs  of  Panthea  portlandia. 
All  logs  of  Raphia  f  rater. 
All  legs  of  Demaa  flavicomis. 

9.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  rubricoma. 

10.  Anterior  femur  and  tibia  of  Acronycta  americana,  male 

11.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  dactylina. 

12.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  haatnlifera. 

13.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  inaita. 

14.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  leporina. 

15.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronycta  cretata. 


NO.  1140. 
Fig.  16. 

17. 

18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23: 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29 
30 
31 
32 

All  tl 
Name  b( 


Fig. 


5. 
6. 
7. 

8. 


1 
1 

2 
3 

4 

5 
C 
1 

c 

1( 
1] 
15 

i: 
1^ 
li 
i( 
1' 
li 

l! 

2 
2 
2 
2 

2 

2 
2 
2 
2 


VOL.  XXI. 


ll|MI8. 


0  with  camera 


and  origin  of 

with  accessory 
oinH  6  to  10  in 
gill  of  veins  2 


les. 

BS. 


NO. UiO.        NOR TH  AMERICAN  NOCTUIDAE-SMITB  AND  DTAR.  191 

fig.  ifl.  Anterior  feiiitir  and  tibia  of  ^cron.vo<o  ;>o/)mH,  mule;  cindmlla,  transvemata, 
and  pacijlca  are  similar. 

17.  Anterior  lnj;  of  male  Aoronycta  tola. 

18.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Am-onycla  innotata. 

19.  Anterior  tibia  and  tarsus  of  Aoronycta  belulav. 

20.  Anterior  le"  of  male  Arronyc.ta  morula;  occidentalis  is  similar. 

21.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  laetifica. 

22.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  loheliae. 

23.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  vinnula. 

24.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  manitoha. 

25.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  (jrhea;  revellala  is  practically  the  same. 

26.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  spinUjera. 

27.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  pruni ;  radcUffei  is  practically  the  same. 

28.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  qiiadrata  and  tritona. 

29.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  perauasa. 

30.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  brnmoaa. 

31.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  olareacena. 

32.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Jcronj/o<aaibar«/o;  ovata,  and  hamamelis  are  practi- 

cally like  it. 
All  the  drawings  were  made  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith  with  a  camera  lucida  and  to  the 
same  scale,  so  that  the  ligures  are  coinparnble. 

Plate  XVIII. 

Miscellaneous  strnctnres  in  Aoronycta: 
Fig.    1.  Showing  position  of  tubercles  on  abdominal  segments  in  larvae  of  lower 
Tinoidos. 

2.  Showing  position  of  tubercles  on  abdominal  segments  in  larvae  of  Sphinges. 

3.  Showing  position  of  tubercles  on  abdominal  segments  in  larvae  of  Bombyces. 

4.  Labial  palpus  of  Aoronycta  amertcana. 

5.  Labial  palpus  of  Acronyota  riihricoma, 

6.  Labial  palpus  of  Acronyota  betulae. 

7.  Labial  palpus  of  Aoronycta  connecta. 

8.  Labial  palpus  of  Acronyota  pruni. 

9.  Labial  palpus  of  Aoronycta  hamamelia, 

10.  Labial  palpus  of  Acronyota  purauasa. 

11.  Labial  palpus  of  Aoronycta  oblinita. 

12.  Tarsal  claw  in  Acronyota  rubriooma;  and  this  is  the  type  found  more  or  less 

marked  in  nearly  all  the  species. 

13.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  oblinita. 

14.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  xyUniformia. 
1.5.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  extricata. 

16.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  perdita. 

17.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  edolata  and  harneaii. 

18.  Anterior  leg  of  male  (in  group)  Acronyota  perauaaa. 

19.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  impreaaa. 

20.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  diaiana. 

21.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  noclivaga,  sperata,  and  emaculata. 

22.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  illita. 

23.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  luteiooma. 

24.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  auperana. 

25.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  modica. 

26.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  atrUjulata. 

27.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Aoronycta  funeralia  and  connecta. 

28.  Anterior  leg  of  male  Acronyota  parallela. 


4 


192 


PEOCBBDISQS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  MVBXUM. 


VOL.  XXI. 


Fig.  2«.  Aiitorittr  leg  of  \\\a\o  Avronyvia  iiauprroiila. 

:U).  Aiiturior  leg  of  initio  Atvonjivtu  furcifera  and  ha»ta, 
SketoheH  for  1, 2, :«,  woio  Biipplied  by  Dr.  H.  0.  Dyar;  all  othi^rs  are  l.y  Dr.  J.  B,  Smith. 

Platk  XIX. 

Mrtht  genital  ntrnctures  in  Acmniirla  and  allies:  ' 

Fig.  1.  Ilurpe  and  cluHjH'iof  I'nnlhm  portlandiu. 
2.  Harpoandcliisperof /'rtM/Am/«)Ti//a. 
li.  Harpe  and  ilaapor  of  Panthea  i/hfutilai. 

4.  Harpe  and  chiBper  of  I'aiilhmiuronyrloidet. 

5.  Harpe  and  dasper  of  I)ema»  propimiHilima.  ^ 
fi.  Harpoand  clasper  of  DemasjlaiivornU. 

7.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Charadm  dispuha.  • 

8.  Harpo  and  claHper  of  Charadra  deridem. 

9.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  /lanmmemna  lii-tignata. 

10.  Harpe  and  claNpor  of  Acroiij/ctu  ruhvkoma. 

11.  Harjjo  and  cla«j)or  of  Acronycta  americana. 

12.  Harpe  and  claHper  of  Aoronycta  accci*  (Knropean). 

13.  Harpo  an«l  clasper  of  Aoronyvia  dartylina. 
It.  Harpo  and  claHper  of  Aoronycta  haHtnlifera. 

15.  Harpo  and  claHper  of  Acronyvta  hcsperida. 

16.  Harpe  and  cdaHpcr  of  Acronycta  ingita. 

17.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  Ivporiua  (Enropoau). 

18.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  crctata, 

19.  Harpe  and  claHper  of  Acronycta  hporina  (American). 

20.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  popuU. 

21.  Harpe  and  claHper  of  Acronycta  lepusctilina. 

22.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Aoronycta  f el ina. 

23.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  Aoronycta  tota. 

All  the  <i«nreH  are  from  nketches  made  by  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith  to  the  same  scale  with 
camera  lucida. 


Vn    1140. 

I  in.  21.  Ill 

All  tho  I 

J,  B.  SmitI 


rig 


Plate  XX. 


Fig 


Male  genital 

1.  Harpo  and 

2.  Harpe  and 

3.  Harpo  and 

4.  Harpo  and 


5.  Harpe  and 

6.  Harpo  and 

7.  Harpe  and 

8.  Harpe  and 

9.  Harpe  and 

10.  Harpo  and 

11.  Harpe  and 

12.  Harpe  and 

13.  Harpe  and 

14.  Harpe  and 

15.  Harpo  and 

16.  Harpe  and 

17.  Harpo  and 

18.  Harpe  and 

19.  Harpe  and 

20.  Harpe  and 


structures  in  Acronycta: 

claspor  of  Acronycta  Cinderella. 

claspor  of  Aironycta  pacifica. 

cla8j)er  of  Acronycta  Iransrermta, 

claspor  of  Acronycta  friyida. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  innotata. 

clasper  of  Aoronycta  bctulae. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  morula. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  occidentalU. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  lactifica. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  lobeliae. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  lobeliae;  small  specimen. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  furcifei-a. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  hasta. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  manitoba. 

cla8i)er  of  Acronycta  thoracica. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  atriyulata. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  radcliffei. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  qnadrata. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  spiniyera. 

clasper  of  Acronycta  pruni. 


Mate 

1.  Hi 

2.  Hi 

3.  Hi 

4.  Hi 

5.  H< 

6.  Hi 

7.  Hi 

8.  H 

9.  II 

10.  H 

11.  II 

12.  H 

13.  H 
11.  H 

15.  H 

16.  H 

17.  H 

18.  H 

19.  H 

20.  II 

21.  H 

22.  11 

23.  11 

24.  11 

25.  11 

26.  E 

27.  Y 

28.  I: 

29.  \ 
All  the 

Ur.  J.  B. 


Fig 


Ma 

1.  H 

2.  H 

3.  H 

4.  H 

5.  H 

6.  B 

7.  E 

8.  K 

9.  E 
-10.  I 

11.  \ 

12.  I 

13.  I 

14.  I 


•  VOU  XXI. 


r.J.B,8tiiltb. 


e  Bcale  with 


1  in.  'J I.  Ilarpo  iinil  rlnsjier  of    tironijcla  hnimona. 

All  th»»  llgmt'H  aro  from  lumeru  luciilu  sketchoH  tlruwu  to  tho  huiuo  aoulu  by  Dr. 
J.  H.  Hinith. 

I'LATU  XXI. 

Mule  neiiitiil  Htructiires  ill  Jfr(mi/*'<a:  , 

lifi,    1.  Hinpe  and  claHpor  of  Avroni/cta  siiperan$. 

2.  Harpo  aii<l  cliiMp»T  o{  AcronycUi  Utho»i>ila. 

3.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  tritona, 

4.  Harpo  and  claMper  of  .icronycla  lunnwta. 
6.  Harpc  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  fiineralit. 

6.  Harpo  and  cluHpcT  of  Acronycta  alni  (Kumpouii). 

7.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  .l(;/()H,i/t'/<t/ra//i/i«. 

8.  Harpo  and  claHper  i>i  Acronycta  paiipercula. 

9.  Hurpo  aud  clasper  of  .lcro«i/(t«  i'(»nu/a. 

10.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  rcreUata. 

11.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  yrisea. 

12.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  utriyom  (Kuropcaii). 

13.  Harpe  and  cJuHper  of  Acronycta  manancta. 
U.  Harpe  and  clasper  oi  Acronycta  falcnla. 

15.  Harpe  and  clasper  o{  Acronycta  purallela. 

16.  Harpe  and  claspor  oi  Acronycta  cuspia  (European). 

17.  Harpe  and  clasper  ot  Acronycta  tridcna  (Kiiropean). 

18.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  pni  (European). 
ID.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  afilicla. 

20.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  pcrsiia»a. 

21.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  litiirala. 

22.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  vKirmoruta. 

23.  Harpo  and  clasper  o{  Acronycta  meyacepUola  (Enropotm). 
2-1.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  alltarnfa. 

!5.  Harpe  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  orala. 
Harpo  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  modica. 
Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  olArescenn. 
Harpo  and  clasper  oi  Acronycta  h(tmameUn. 
Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  retnrdutu. 
All  the  figures  are  from  camera    huM:i  sketches  drawn  to  the  same  scale  by 
Dr.  J.  li.  Smith. 

Platk  XXII. 

Male  genital  structures  in  Acronycta  and  allies : 
I'ig.  1.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  illita. 

2.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  luteicoma. 

3.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  sperata. 

4.  Harpo  and  claspor  of  Acronycta  euphorhiac  (European). 

5.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  JcTO?ii/c<a  mi/nca  (European). 

6.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  noctiraga. 

7.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  menyanthidla  (European). 

8.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  rumicia  (European). 

9.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  emaculata. 

—  10.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  impreaaa,  variety. 

11.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  impreaaa,  normal. 

12.  Harpo  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  diatana,  normal. 

13.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  diatana,  variety. 

14.  Harpe  and  clasper  of  Acronycta  atiricoma  (European). 

Proc.  N.  M.  vol.  xxi 13 


25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 


194 


I'KnVKKinSaS  OF  tim  natwsal  mvskim. 


VOUXXI. 


Pig.  IB.  Hnrpo  and  rlaspor  of  .trroni/rta  hameiU. 

Itt.  Uarpti  niul  i'.ltin\wio(  Aiivnyita  pmlilii. 

17.  Miir|i«  and  cliisjur  of  .tironycta  edolata. 

\H.  llin|ie  iMid  cliiHiMr  fif  AiToni/nla  ijrlrirala. 

19.  Marpo  iind  ilaMpor  of  Auroiiiitla  xylini/ormia. 
JiO.  Iliirpc  and  ilimper  of  Avronyvla  oblinita. 
21.  Haipe  and  (daspcr  of  Arailouche  alhovenom. 
2a.  llurjio  and  ilanper  of  Merolonche  umina. 
2:1.   Uiirpr  and  <la8p«r  of  Miriilutichv  liiphii. 

All  the  iiguiea  im)fromcumonilu«idftMketclie8druwn  to  tlioMauiDHoulo  l>v  Dr  J  I; 
SniitU. 


U.  9.  NATI 


VOI.KXI. 


Illo  liy  l»r.  J,  li. 


U.  8.  NATIONAL  MUSEUM 


PROCEKDINOS,  VOL.  XXI    PL.  I 


The  Genus  Acronycta. 

For  explanation  of  plate  see  paoe  185. 


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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.  II 


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U.  S,  NATIONAL  MUSEUM 


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For  explanation  of  plate  see  page  187. 


U.  •.  NATIOI 


U.  •.  NATIONAL  MUSEUM 


PROCKIOINOS,  VOL.  XXt     PL   VIII 


The  Genus  Acronycta. 

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The  Genus  Acronycta. 

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PROCEEDINQS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.  XII 


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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.  XIII 
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PR0CEEDIN08,  VOL  XXI    H.  XIV 


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Body  Structures  of  Acronycta. 

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U.  S.  NATIONAL  MUSEUM 


PROCECOINOS,  VOL.  XXI     PI.  XV 


Head  Structures  of  Acronycta. 

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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.  XVI 


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Venation  of  Acronycta. 

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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.   XVII 


LEG  Structure  of  Acronycta. 

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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.   XXI     PL.  XVIII 


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U.  S.  NATIONAL  MUSEUM 


PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.   XXI     PL.   XIX 


Genital  Structures  in  Acronycta. 

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PROCEEDINGS,  VOL.  XXI     PL.   XX 


Genital  Structures  in  Acronycta. 

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PR0CEEDIN08,  VOL.  XXI     PL    XXI 


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PROCEE0INO8,  VOL.   XXI     PI.   XXII 


Genital  Structures  in  acronygta. 

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